Jeollanamdo Europe Office

Representative Office of Jeollanamdo Provincial Government of South Korea

Category: World Heritage

Suncheon Sets Its Sights on Becoming a Global Healing City 🌿

Posted by on in 2025, Jeollanamdo & Europe, Nature, Tourism, World HeritageLeave a comment

Suncheon, a coastal city in South Korea’s Jeollanam-do Province, is positioning itself as a global hub for wellness tourism. A recent delegation visited the UK and Germany to study innovative models of nature-based healing and social prescribing.

In London, officials met with the National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP), where CEO Hammad Khan praised Suncheon’s eco-therapy approach as a “practical and powerful model.” Plans are underway for a formal partnership.

Mayor Noh Kwan-kyu emphasized Suncheon’s unique blend of UNESCO-designated gardens, tidal flats, and wetland reserves, which the city plans to integrate with culture, biotech, and sustainable tourism.

The team also explored Maggie’s Healing Center in Manchester and the Kneipp Gardens in Bad Wörishofen, Germany, drawing inspiration for a holistic wellness infrastructure.

Armed with new insights, Suncheon is accelerating efforts to become a global model for healing, nature, and mindful living.

Source: Maeil Business Newspaper

Yeongsan Hoesangdo and Palsangdo of Songgwangsa Temple in Suncheon designated as a National Treasure

Posted by on in 2024, Allgemein, Tourism, World HeritageLeave a comment

The city of Suncheon held a celebration on June 27 at Songgwangsa Temple to commemorate the designation of the “Yeongsan Hoesangdo and Palsangdo of Songgwangsa” as a National Treasure. These significant Buddhist paintings were declared a Treasure in 2003 and, after more than twenty years, have now received National Treasure status, the first such designation since the establishment of the National Heritage Administration.

The ceremony took place in the Daeungbojeon Hall and the Sungbo Museum of the temple, attended by the National Heritage Administration, the temple’s devotees, and local residents. Choi Eung-cheon, the head of the National Heritage Administration, personally handed over the designation certificate to the temple.

The “Yeongsan Hoesangdo and Palsangdo” are important Buddhist paintings housed at Songgwangsa Temple in Suncheon. These paintings consist of two main parts:

1. Yeongsan Hoesangdo (영산회상도): This painting depicts Buddha preaching on Vulture Peak (Yeongsan). It symbolizes Buddha’s teachings and enlightenment.

2. Palsangdo (팔상도): These paintings comprise eight individual scenes depicting significant events from Buddha’s life, from his birth to his entry into Nirvana. They illustrate the key stages of Buddha’s life.

The paintings were created in 1725 by artists such as Uigyeom and are representative works of the late Joseon Dynasty. Originally made for worship in the Yeongsanjeon Hall of Songgwangsa Temple, they are now exhibited in the temple’s Sungbo Museum.

Choi Eung-cheon emphasized the importance of these works and announced that the National Heritage Administration, in collaboration with the city of Suncheon and Songgwangsa Temple, is committed to ensuring the systematic preservation and utilization of these cultural assets.

https://www.jldnews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=177938

Jeollanamdo’s Tidal Flats become Korea’s 15th World Heritage Site

Posted by on in 2021, Nature, World HeritageLeave a comment

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee listed four “Getbol”, Korean Tidal Flats, along the south-western coast of the Korean peninsula as a new Natural World Heritage Site on Monday, 26th of July. The official listing happened during the 44th session of the Committee, held in Fuzhou, China. By this, the Getbol become Korea’s 15th World Heritage and just the second Natural Heritage Site, alongside the Jeju volcanic island and its famous lava tubes.

The four Getbol are the Shinan Getbol in Shinan County, Boseong-Suncheon Getbol in Boseong County and Suncheon City, all located in Jeollanamdo, along with Seocheon Getbol in Seocheon County, Chungcheongnamdo and Gochang Getbol in Gochang County in Jeollabukdo.

With 1,100 km² the tidal flats in Shinan have the largest area of the four, while the other tidal flats cover 60 km². Some of them are unique wetlands designated by the Ramsar Convention.

After failing to be listed in 2018 due to a lack of information the World Heritage Committee finally listed the Tidal Flats, acknowledging their outstanding role in forming a unique eco-system along the south-western coast of Korea. The site is not only home to over 2000 species of flora and fauna but is also a stopover for 22 endangered migration birds.

The site demonstrates the link between geodiversity and biodiversity, and demonstrates the dependence of cultural diversity and human activity on the natural environment.

UNESCO World Heritage Committee
Suncheonman Bay

The promotion as a UNESCO World Heritage will have a huge positive impact on the region. It will not only raise awareness about this unique ecosystem and draw many tourists to Jeollanamdo, but it will also ensure the highest level of protection for the area and therefore for its wildlife. It will ensure the life of millions of migratory waterbirds for whose survival the Getbol provide a critical habitat.