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HELLO from KOREA

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64 _ <strong>HELLO</strong> <strong>from</strong> <strong>KOREA</strong><br />

World Cultural<br />

Heritage List<br />

Three of Korea's most prized national treasures<br />

were included for the first time on the<br />

World Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO on<br />

December 9, 1995, joining<br />

469 other cultural<br />

and natural monuments<br />

in 105 countries. The<br />

Korean national treasures<br />

so honored are<br />

the eighth century<br />

Bulguksa Temple and<br />

the affiliated stone grotto,<br />

Seokguram, in Gyeongju in Gyeong-sangbuk-do<br />

Province and the 13th century<br />

Tripitaka Koreana preserved at Haeinsa<br />

Temple in Gyeongsangnam -do Province,<br />

both in the southeastern part of the nation<br />

and Jongmyo, the Joseon (1392-1910) Royal<br />

Ancestral Shrine, located in the capital city in<br />

Seoul. The Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul and<br />

the Hwaseong Fortress in the city of Suwon<br />

were added to the list in 1997.<br />

Korea joined the Convention Concerning<br />

the Protection of the World Cultural and<br />

Natural Heritage in 1988. It is intended to protect<br />

outstanding monuments, buildings and<br />

sites <strong>from</strong> destruction and damage by man.<br />

The list identifies the<br />

sites as part of the cultural<br />

heritage of all<br />

humanity. It is a matter<br />

of national pride for<br />

Korea to have the excellence<br />

of its national treasures<br />

recognized by the<br />

international community<br />

through inclusion on the World Cultural<br />

Heritage List.<br />

In 2000, two more Korean treasures were<br />

added to the list: the prehistoric dolmens in<br />

Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa, and the<br />

entire area of Gyeongju, the capital of the<br />

ancient Silla Kingdom, where innumerable<br />

cultural treasure and historic sites are carefully<br />

preserved.<br />

of it rolling away; Cheonbuldong (thousand Buddha) Valley, whose stone<br />

formations look uncannily like humans and animals; and Daeseung<br />

Waterfall, where a mountain spirit was said to have taken refuge <strong>from</strong> an<br />

attacking monster which was then killed by a heavenly lightning bolt.<br />

The 354km 2 national park is also home to several Buddhist temples and<br />

hermitages, the most famous being the Sinheungsa Temple.<br />

Huwon and Changdeokgung<br />

There are four Joseon Dynasty palaces in Seoul, all within walking distance<br />

of each other, but Changdeokgung is most popular. It is the best<br />

preserved of the palaces and is quite accessible.<br />

The palace was constructed in 1405 by King Taejong as an annex to<br />

Gyeongbokgung Palace and has been enlarged several times, but it was<br />

destroyed by fire during the Hideyoshi invasion of l592. Though the

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