Ulsan: A set of prehistoric rock carvings in southeastern South Korea has been added to UNESCO's World Heritage list, a South Korean cultural agency announced. The decision was made during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Paris, where the "Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream" were formally recognized for their outstanding cultural value.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the carvings, located along the Bangucheon Stream-a tributary of the Taehwa River in Ulsan, approximately 360 kilometers southeast of Seoul-depict hunting scenes and animals believed to date back to the prehistoric era. The inscription had been widely anticipated after the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), an advisory body to UNESCO, recommended the listing in May. A recommendation from ICOMOS is typically seen as preliminary approval for World Heritage status.

Based on the ICOMOS review, the World Heritage Committee noted that the petroglyphs offer exceptional testimony to a tradition of rock art that spanned around 6,000 years. The committee highlighted the realistic depictions and distinctive compositions, which underscore the artistic skills of the people who once inhabited the Korean Peninsula. It described the carvings as "masterpieces created through the creativity of prehistoric people."

With this addition, South Korea now boasts 17 entries on the UNESCO World Heritage list. President Lee Jae Myung expressed his approval on his Facebook page, stating that he "wholeheartedly welcomes the decision with the entire nation." He emphasized that this masterpiece, created by humans and nature over a long period, has finally been recognized as a heritage worthy of preservation for all humankind, more than 50 years after it became known to the world.

The newly inscribed site comprises two major panels: the Bangudae petroglyphs in Daegok-ri and the Cheonjeon-ri petroglyphs. These are considered rare and significant examples of early human artistic expression in East Asia. The Daegok-ri panel, often referred to as the "Bangudae petroglyphs," is the largest rock art site on the Korean Peninsula, stretching over 30 meters. It includes images of sea and land animals, and hunting scenes.

First discovered in 1971 and designated as South Korea's National Treasure No. 285, the Daegok-ri panel is renowned for featuring the world's oldest known depiction of whale hunting. A 2023 report by the Ulsan metropolitan city identified 312 individual engravings on the panel using three-dimensional scanning.

The Cheonjeon-ri petroglyphs, located about 2 kilometers from the Daegok-ri site, were discovered in 1970. They contain over 620 figures, symbols, and drawings engraved along a rock surface. This site is now the country's National Treasure No. 147. However, preservation challenges have arisen due to frequent submergence caused by fluctuating water levels at the nearby Sayeon Dam, constructed in 1965 before the petroglyphs were discovered.

Over the past decade, the carvings have been underwater for an average of 42 days per year. Government officials and experts have been discussing preservation measures, including adjusting the dam's water levels and building temporary embankments. Authorities plan to install floodgates at the Sayeon Dam spillway to better control water levels and protect the site.

Frequent submergence was a key reason it took 15 years for the petroglyphs to gain World Heritage status after being placed on UNESCO's tentative list in 2010. The World Heritage Committee recommended that the South Korean government inform the World Heritage Centre of the progress of the dam-related construction work.