고인돌과 갯벌의 고장...전북 고창 세계유산축전 / YTN

■ Host: Anchor Lee Yeo-jin, Anchor Jang Won-seok ■ Guest: Shim Deok-seop, Mayor of Gochang County, North Jeolla Province The text below may differ from the actual broadcast. For more accurate information, please check the broadcast. Please cite [YTN News PLUS] when quoting. [Anchor] A festival commemorating the value and significance of Korea's UNESCO World Heritage Sites began last July. It is currently being held in Gochang, North Jeolla Province, famous for its dolmens and tidal flats. To hear more about Gochang, we've invited Shim Deok-seop, Mayor of Gochang County, to the YTN studio today. Welcome. I heard the World Heritage Festival is underway. What kind of festival is it? [Sim Deok-seop] The World Heritage Festival is a festival held by local governments that own World Heritage sites and the National Heritage Administration. It showcases the value and significance of Korea's UNESCO World Heritage Sites through various programs, such as performances, experiences, and exhibitions, making it easy and enjoyable for everyone to understand and enjoy. Launched in 2020, this year marks the sixth year of the World Heritage Festival. This year, the festival was held in Jeju in July, and in Gyeongju and Suncheon in September. Now, in October, as autumn deepens, the final World Heritage Festival will be held in Gochang, focusing on dolmens and mudflats. This year, we've welcomed many foreign ambassadors to Korea, who were previously difficult to host, and leading Korean scholars, who have visited the Gochang region. This has become an opportunity to promote Gochang internationally and open a new chapter in the history of Gochang. [Anchor] I heard that Gochang County has seven UNESCO-recognized World Treasures. What are they? [Sim Deok-seop] First, the Dolmen Site, home to the largest concentration of dolmens in the world, was registered as a World Cultural Heritage site in 2000. Subsequently, the Gochang mudflats were added to the World Natural Heritage list, and Gochang's Pansori and Nongak were added to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In 2013, the entire Gochang County was designated a Biosphere Reserve. In particular, with 13 local geological sites designated as UNESCO Global Geoparks in 2023 and the Donghak Peasant Revolution records designated as UNESCO Memory of the World, Gochang now boasts seven programs in five categories recognized by UNESCO. In terms of diversity, encompassing both the vastness of nature and human civilization, Gochang is not only Korea's leading city but also a world-class city. Leveraging the strengths and opportunities of this World Heritage city, Gochang County is consistently striving to enhance regional sustainability and foster change and growth in an era of regional extinction. [Anchor] I heard there's a program related to dolmens at the Gochang World Heritage Festival. Are you saying you absolutely must see it? [Sim Deok-seop] Yes, I'd like to introduce a few interesting programs. The most interesting one is the Dolmen Ereum School, which is organized into four periods—if you could call it a school, it's four periods. During these four periods, the first will explore the value of the dolmens in the Gochang region. The second will provide an explanation of the world's great castle cultures, including Stonehenge. The third will cover the preservation and utilization of World Heritage sites, as well as carbon neutrality practices. The final, fourth period will feature hands-on dolmen model making, where students will learn the principles of dolmen construction and take home a wonderful souvenir. Furthermore, on October 16th, we will host an international academic conference inviting leading scholars on dolmens and great castle culture. The following day, on the 17th, we will hold a regular meeting with the mayors of 31 World Heritage cities in Korea. This will serve as an opportunity to promote the brand of Gochang as a World Heritage city and instill pride in our local residents. [Anchor] The governor also mentioned the tidal flats a little while ago... (omitted) ▶ Original article: https://www.ytn.co.kr/_ln/0115_202510... ▶ Report: https://mj.ytn.co.kr/mj/mj_write.php ▣ Subscribe to YTN YouTube: http://goo.gl/Ytb5SZ ⓒ YTN. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, and use of AI data are prohibited.