Seoul: South Korea announced its intention to restart a joint archaeological survey with North Korea at a historic palace site, a project that has been inactive since 2018. The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) revealed this initiative as part of its policy agenda under the Lee Jae Myung administration, alongside efforts to restore a significant temple on Mount Kumgang, a North Korean mountain recently recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the KHS emphasized the importance of promoting inter-Korean exchanges in the cultural heritage sector, highlighting the joint survey of the Manwoldae palace site as a priority. The agency outlined other collaborative efforts, such as a joint survey of Cheorwon Fortress from the Later Goguryeo Kingdom and restoration work at Yujeom Temple on Mount Kumgang.
Manwoldae, once the main palace of the Goryeo Dynasty, is situated in present-day Kaesong. Between 2007 and 2018, the Koreas conducted eight rounds of joint excavation at the site, unearthing approximately 17,900 artifacts, including a piece of metal type. However, the project was halted in 2018 due to escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula and a broader cessation of inter-Korean cooperation, which intensified after the 2019 collapse of nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang.
Officials acknowledged that resuming the project swiftly is improbable, stating that progress would depend on meeting specific conditions. The KHS expressed its intention to collaborate with other ministries and private organizations to prepare for future joint efforts.
In addition to cross-border projects, the KHS announced domestic initiatives, such as developing an AI ecosystem for national heritage and enhancing the use of cultural assets in Korean content creation. The agency also pledged to successfully organize the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan in July 2026, an event anticipated to attract over 3,000 global participants.