UNESCO's evaluation agency has recommended adding South Korea's traditional Confucian academies to its heritage list.
Our Kan Hyeong-woo tells us more.
Nine traditional Confucian academies in South Korea, called Seowon in Korean, are one step closer to being added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
According to Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration on Tuesday,... UNESCO's evaluation agency, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, recommended that the scholarly sites are added to the list.
'Seowon' are private Confucian academies established during Korea's Joseon Dynasty to honor renowned scholars and educate young people.
Nine sites have been recommended for the list, including Sosu Seowon in Yeongju and Dosan and Byeongsan Seowons in Andong.
The Cultural Heritage Administration had previously applied for the seowons to be added to the World Heritage List back in 2016,... but it withdrew its bid after being deferred by the International Council on Monuments and Sites.
Seeking consultations with the evaluation agency, the Cultural Heritage Administration re-applied in early 2018.
After almost a year and a half of evaluation,... the Seowons have been finally recognized for their 'Outstanding Universal Value'.
The final decision will be made at the World Heritage Committee meeting in Azerbaijan,... which will be held from June 30th through July 10th.
If successful, the Seowons will become South Korea's 14th item on the World Heritage list.
Kan Hyeong-woo, Arirang News