Korea Selects 3 Heritage Sites for UNESCO List

Korea wants to add the Namhan Mountain Fortress, Baekje-era historic sites and mudflats on the southwestern coast to UNESCO's World Heritage sites.

The Cultural Heritage Administration on Tuesday announced it selected two cultural sites -- a Baekje Kingdom complex of historic sites in Gongju and Buyeo in South Chungcheong Province, the capitals of the ancient kingdom, and Iksan in North Jeolla Province, and the Namhan Mountain Fortress in Gyeonggi Province -- and one natural asset -- mudflats on the southwestern coast -- as priority candidates.

The CHA reviewed 11 sites already registered on UNESCO's tentative list for World Heritage status and two others to make the selection. It selected the three candidate sites because of their outstanding universal value, state of preservation and scholarly interest at home and abroad.