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The site of Manwoldae, a Goryeo-era royal palace that underwent joint excavations and surveys from 2007 to 2015. (provided by the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage)
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Joint survey part of agreements reached during inter-Korean working-level meetings
A joint inter-Korean excavation of Manwoldae, a Goryeo-era (918-1392) royal palace in the North Korean city of Kaesong, is to be resumed later this month after being suspending for three years. The South Korean Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) officially announced on Sept. 11 that an agreement to carry out an eighth joint survey and historical preservation effort at Manwoldae between Sept. 27 and Dec. 27 had been reached in a Sept. 6 working-level meeting in Kaesong with officials from the Inter-Korean Historian Association, Ministry of Unification, and North Korean Reconciliation Council. A resumption ceremony is also to be held at the survey site on Oct. 2 with South and North Korean officials in attendance, the CHA said. For the resumed project, the two sides plan to start with the excavation and study of the severely damaged northwest terrace of the palace’s Hoegyong Hall. After the excavation, South and North Korean officials are to discuss preservation and repair efforts and continue with repairs to the terrace. Located at the southern foot of Mt. Songak, Manwoldae is the palace where the Goryeo kings and high-ranking officials conducted government affairs in the 10th to 14th centuries. Its characteristic feature is its splendid arrangement of buildings with towering stonework and staircases to match the topography. Seven previous inter-Korean excavation efforts were carried out at Manwoldae between 2007 and 2015. Investigations have been completed on 19,000 out of 33,000 square meters in the western architectural area, with the confirmation of around 40 building wings, two terraces, two large staircases, and around 16,500 relics including gold printing type and celadon pieces. Joint surveys halted after closing of Kaesong Industrial Complex in 2016 In 2015, the two sides agreed to extend their survey period from 60 days to six months; the survey was halted the following year as inter-Korean relations soured in the wake of North Korea’s nuclear testing and the closure of the Kaesong Industrial Complex. During the working-level meetings, the South Korean side proposed other efforts to North Korea including joint registration of ssireum (Korean-style wrestling) on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, joint excavation of Goguryeo-era tombs in Pyongyang, a joint survey of historical sites for the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement, and joint compilation of the “Gyeoremal-Keunsajeon” dictionary, the CHA said. By Noh Hyung-seok, staff reporter Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
