UNESCO World Cultural Heritage – “Dolmen Sites of Korea”
Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000 as “The Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites”
Inscription Criteria
World Cultural Heritage Criterion (iii)
“Bearing a unique, or at least exceptional, testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared.”
“Bearing a unique, or at least exceptional, testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared.”
Outstanding Universal Value
The Gochang Dolmen Site contains the highest density of dolmens in the world, displaying a wide range of typologies that illustrate the development of megalithic culture. The presence of associated quarries offers invaluable insight into the construction processes of dolmens, providing important evidence for understanding their origin, characteristics, and historical evolution in Korea. In addition, the Gochang dolmens are exceptionally well-preserved and maintain a high degree of authenticity and integrity.
A place where one can truly experience the Outstanding Universal Value defined as
“a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a living or vanished cultural tradition or to a civilization.”
Gochang is home to 1,720 dolmens, the largest concentration in the world.