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Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong

Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Factors affecting the property in 2015*
  • Impacts of tourism / visitor / recreation
  • Management systems/ management plan
Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports
Threats identified at the time of inscription in 2013:
  • Need to develop tourism management and interpretation plans for the nominated property components
  • Need to further develop the monitoring system to ensure coordination between the monitoring bodies
International Assistance: requests for the property until 2015
Requests approved: 2 (from 2006-2009)
Total amount approved : 55,000 USD
Missions to the property until 2015**
Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2015

On 3 March 2015, the State Party submitted a report on the state of conservation of the property, which is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1278/, and which provides information on the progress made with the implementation of the World Heritage Committee’s recommendations (Decision 37 COM 8B. 30), as follows:

  • Tourism management plan and interpretation plans: The National Agency for the Protection of Cultural Heritage (NAPCH) is in the process of preparing the tourism management plan and interpretation plans, in close cooperation with UNESCO Beijing. The “Training Workshop on Tourism Management at the Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong” held in July 2014, co-hosted by UNESCO Beijing assisted with the preparation of the vision, strategies and timeline. The first draft is expected to be ready by July 2015 and overall completion scheduled for January 2016.
  • Monitoring system: In order to enhance the monitoring system and the coordination between the responsible authorities, the State Party decided to establish by 2015 a department (NAPCH and provincial authorities) tasked with monitoring the state of conservation and controlling activities within of property.
Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2015

The steps taken by the State Party to respond to the recommendations of the World Heritage Committee should be noted. In particular, the holding of a training workshop on tourism management with the assistance of UNESCO Beijing should be acknowledged, as this has actively assisted the authorities with the development of the tourism management plan, with a clearly defined vision, strategies and objectives. 

The decision to establish a department for the monitoring of the property and enhance cooperation among the government bodies, national and provincial authorities is a positive step towards ensuring the management of the serial property components as a whole.

No information on the guidelines for protection and management was included in the state of conservation report. In view of the still outstanding completion of the tourism management plan and interpretation plan, as well as tangible progress with the monitoring system, it is recommended that the World Heritage Committee request the State Party to report on the progress made by 2017.

Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2015
39 COM 7B.62
Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) (C 1278rev)

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7B.Add,
  2. Recalling Decision 37 COM 8B.30, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
  3. Acknowledges the steps taken by the State Party to respond to the recommendations, notably the holding of a training workshop on tourism management in cooperation with UNESCO Beijing;
  4. Encourages the State Party to proceed with the development, adoption and implementation of the tourism management plan and interpretation plans, in close cooperation with UNESCO Beijing, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
  5. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2016, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017.
Draft Decision: 39 COM 7B.62

The World Heritage Committee,

  1. Having examined Document WHC-15/39.COM/7B.Add,
  2. Recalling Decision 37 COM 8B.30, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
  3. Acknowledges the steps taken by the State Party to respond to the recommendations, notably the holding of a training workshop on tourism management in cooperation with UNESCO Beijing;
  4. Encourages the State Party to proceeed with the development, adoption and implementation of the tourism management plan and interpretation plans, in close cooperation with UNESCO Beijing, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies;
  5. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2016, an updated report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 41st session in 2017.
Report year: 2015
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Date of Inscription: 2013
Category: Cultural
Criteria: (ii)(iii)
Documents examined by the Committee
SOC Report by the State Party
Report (2015) .pdf
arrow_circle_right 39COM (2015)
Exports

* : The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).

** : All mission reports are not always available electronically.


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