Gaya Kingdom Tombs

[Anchor Lead]

Five local governments have formed a committee that will seek world heritage status for tombs of the Gaya Kingdom, which were at the heart of ancient culture on the Korean Peninsula for over 500 years.

[Pkg]

Beneath Gujibong Peak, where tales say the Gaya Kingdom was founded, lies a gently sloping 20 meter-high hill. This is a grave site of Geumgwan Gaya, which thrived in the early iron age between the third and fifth century. On the main ridges are the tombs of rulers, while the tombs of those who were ruled are located on flat land. Some 3,000 excavated relics include horse decorations used by nomadic Chinese tribes and shield accessories from Japan.

[Soundbite] Shim Jae-yong(Curator, Daeseong-dong Tombs Museum) : "The tombs can be granted World Heritage status because clear proof has emerged that there was commerce with Northeast Asia."

Five local governments, including the governments of Gyeongsangnam-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do Provinces, launched a committee to pursue the listing of the Gaya Kindgom tombs as UNESCO World Heritage sites. The committee will seek to list a total of three sites, located in Gimhae's Daeseong-dong and Haman's Marisan Mountain in Gyeongsangnam-do Province and in Jisan-dong of Goryeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province. The committee is aiming to submit an application around 2019.

[Soundbite] Kang So-ki(Gyeongsangnam-do Provincial Gov't) : "We can collect expertise and experience from committee members in the process of applying for the World Heritage status."

It remains to be seen whether the tombs, which have preserved the secrets of the forgotten Gaya kingdom, will be recognized for their value in human history through World Heritage status.