There are dolmens near Seoul that can be done by bus. Especially nowadays, if you are online while travelling.


Without your own car I would recommend a temple stay at Haeinsa. Quite nice and informative. Finding the bus station to Haeinsa from Daegu was a bit complicated, but I think the busses run frequently and you should be able to simply ask google.

Generally, helps to be able to decipher hangul lettets.
.

Summary of Korea's World Heritage Program (ROK)

2016 - Seowon, Neo-Confucian Academies of the Joseon Dynasty
2017 - Seoul City Wall
2018 - Traditional Buddhist Mountain Temples of Korea
2019 - Gaya Tumuli: Gimhae & Jisan-dong
2020 - Naganeupseong, Town Fortress and Village

In development (no official time slot)
Daegokcheon Stream Petroglyphs
Southwestern Coast Tidal Flats

Indicative List (30)
- Sacred Manisan Mountain - Chamseongdan Altar
- Ganghwa Island Historic Areas
- Haemieupseong Fortress
- Tongjeyeong Naval Compound
- Jinjuseong
- Seongeup Folk Village
- Doldam of Jeju Island
- Jirisan National Park
- Baekdudaegan
- Neolithic Sites of Korea: Amsa-dong and Osan-ri
- Joseon White Porcelain Sites in Gwangju
- Palgongsan Gatbawi
- Yubu-do Wetland
- Sogwangri Geumgang Pine Tree Grove
- Dadohaehaesang National Park
- Yeongsan River Basin - Ancient Tombs of Mahan
- Byeokgolje Reservoir of Gimje
- Unjusa Temple
- Prehistoric Site in Yeonchon: Jeongok-ri
- United Nations Command - Busan Provisional Capital and Refugee Trail
- Busan: Gal·Maet·Gil Coastal Trail
- Yongsan-gu Garrison District (Seoul)
- Seonggyungwan and Munmyo Shrine (Seoul)
- Jeong-dong: Old Legation Quarter (Seoul)
- Deoksugung Palace (Seoul)
- Dongmyo Shrine (Seoul)
- Seodaemun Prison (Seoul)
- Sajikdan (Seoul)
- Bukhansanseong [Extension] (Seoul)
- Ruins of the Hanseong-Baekje [Extension] (Seoul)

There is certainly NOT going to be (30) additions to Korea's Tentative List, but these potential nominations are being discussed. Some candidates are seriously pursuing a place on the tentative list and preparing files to be submitted to the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea. Korea's nomination plan from 2016 - 2020 is seemingly set, but like most world heritage nominations their status can be delayed or even dropped. The Southwestern Coast Tidal Flats nomination is based on natural criteria, and could certainly be submitted between 2017 - 2020. The Daegokcheon Stream Petroglyphs nomination could bump other cultural nominations based on its emergency status as endangered. There have been dozens of articles on this nomination, including its delays and potential steps forward.

Indicators of (ROK) Nominations
1) Representation of Historical Periods of Korea (Neolithic 1, Three Kingdoms and Gaya 3, Goryeo 0, Joseon 7, Empire of Korea 0, Japanese Colonial Period 0, Division of Korea 0)

2) Geographical Representation of Korean Provinces (Gyeonggi-do 6, Chungcheongbuk-do 0, Chungcheongnam-do 1, Gangwon-do 1, Jeollabuk-do 1, Jeollanam-do 1, Gyeongsangbuk-do 3, Gyeongsangnam-do 1, Jeju-do 1)

Pretty solid at this point both Gaya nominations have been combined into one joint nomination.

http://www.gimhaenews.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=13905

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2015/10/27/0200000000AKR20151027046800053.HTML

Ongoing discussion about listing the Baekje sites in Seoul with UNESCO



http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20151104001212

Mireuksa Temple Restoration is in full gear, completion date is July 2017. I am very pleased they are going with restoration and maintenance rather than reconstruction (which was the most popular choice with locals). The ruined pagoda will not be rebuilt, and it will keep its 7th century "look". This decision has in part been influenced by the Baekje Historic Areas inclusion on the Tentative List and eventually its inscription as a WHS.

I have been reporting on this pagoda for a while now, partially because I visited the site in 2011, but also because its importance as the oldest and largest pagoda in Korea. Moreover, it is considered one of the oldest and largest stone pagodas though out East Asia. This 17-year-old restoration work is almost complete, and I imagine it will be rightfully viewed as one of Korea's greatest architectural achievements from antiquity.

http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=3013110&cloc=joonga ngdaily|home|online

The restoration of stupa is very interesting. Don't know why the stone really make me think about lego blocks!! I always though that the Songyue Pagoda, part of WHS Songshan, is the oldest pagoda exist, maybe the restoration find new evidence that Mireuksa is more older.

Mireuksa Pagoda is from 639, therefore younger. Maybe the claim is based on stone versus brick? Regardless, Mireuksa is one of the largest temple sites, as well as oldest stone pagodas in East Asia. More importantly, it truly is an exceptional example of Baekje craftsmanship. Without Mireuksa or the King Muryeong's brick tomb, the Baekje Historic Areas nomination would not have OUV in my opinion.

Korean Cretaceous Dinosaur Coast refuses to disappear. I find it quite astonishing the dedication (and cost) Korea has allotted for this nomination that failed in 2009. In 2012/2013 Korean representatives were in England for assistance in education/interpretation of the site(s), now I find out they've sent representatives to Colorado for a international comparative analysis! Ambition and budget indeed!

My Review in 2011

http://www.focus.kr/view.php?sub_gdnum=340&key=2016010800094807476

Samhan Era Irrigation: Byeokgolje (Gimje) & Uirimji (Jecheon)

Samhan - Korea has been highly focused on representation of its dynastic history (Joseon, Goryeo, Three Kingdoms, etc). Moreover, a nomination to recognize the very ancient Samhan period would certainly align with previous efforts by the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea. Both sites look pleasant, but I can't imagine 2 ancient reservoirs "wowing" many visitors!

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2016/02/11/0200000000AKR20160211183600064.HTML

Concering the Seowon nomination for 2016. This is the latest news I've found. The translation is poor, but it seems ICOMOS recommended expanding the heritage areas of the Seowon. This may now have been fully (or partially) accomplished by the CHA (Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea). A March meeting is indicated (pre-screening?) to deliberate on this matter. Perhaps a Deferral or Referral, or just recommendations that the CHA committed to carry out. Difficult to decipher at this point!

http://news.mk.co.kr/newsRead.php?year=2016&no=81808

this may be a request for (larger) buffer zones

Els Review (Seowon Academies)

Thanks for sharing Els! For anyone interested in this nomination, check out these well made 2-3 minutes videos about four of the nine Seowon (Confucian Academies). Notably absent is Sosuseowon which is perhaps the most iconic and important Confucian Academy in Korea.

Byeongsan Seowon (inscribed with Historic Villages WHS)
https://youtu.be/b4p9UE3mXhU

Dodong Seowon
https://youtu.be/5uIrUanSUnI

Dosan Seowon (location of Els visit in 2001)
https://youtu.be/ffOdChwqqlM

Oksan Seowon (inscribed with Historic Villages WHS)
https://youtu.be/orubLJ8kL5w

Summary of World Heritage News - Korea

1) Seowon nomination is already vowing to meet the recommendations of ICOMOS by expanding boundaries of each property.

http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/bulletin/2016/03/18/0200000000AKR20160318163500005.HTML

2) Southwest Coast Tidal Flats nomination is growing (additional 3 components) and is aiming for 2019.

http://www.tournews21.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=22574

3) Sorok Island - Aspiring candidate (leper colony)

http://news.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=20160318000750

Seoul Pushes Hanseong Baekje Area to Become UNESCO Site

"the historic area is expected to be named to South Korea's tentative list of world heritage sites in the first half of 2017"

This is probably a strong indication when an update to the Korean Tentative List will occur. (Early 2017)

(1994) - 2 nominations remaining
(2002) - 1 nomination remaining
(2010) - 4 nomination remaining
(2011) - 4 nomination remaining (Seowon Academies 2016)
(2012) - 1 nomination remaining (Seoul City Wall 2017)
(2013) - 3 nominations remaining (Traditional Buddhist Mountain Temples 2018)
Next Update: Early 2017?

http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/news_Dm_detail.htm?No=117898

A Catholic Heritage Nomination is currently progressing in Korea. The article linked below shows some Catholic cultural sites that might make up a nomination. I really wonder if Korea has any chance of success here, considering Japan's failure with the sites in Nagasaki? Christianity was introduced in Japan earlier, but perhaps the blend of Christian and Indigenous Korean traditions would sway ICOMOS. In addition, the longevity and current dominant religion in South Korea might demonstrate OUV more easily than the churches in Nagasaki which have not made a lasting effect on the overall Japanese population?


Nabawi Cathedral


Asan Gongseri Catholic Church


Hapdeok Catholic Church


Haemi Fortress (Site of Martyrdom of more than 1000 Catholics)

http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2993406

This article in Korean lists 13 potential series sites

http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2016041413325614603