winterkjm
There are already lots of reviews about the sites. But if there is interest I can add a few. What sites would you be interested in reading an additional review? I would lean towards covering one with "only" 3 reviews or a tent site.

I would personally be interested in 5 reviews, all of which can provide information specific to your visit that many others have not commented on or have not experienced.

World Heritage Sites (3)

Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa Dolmen - Only 1 reviewer mentioned the Hwasun Dolmen site. Of the 3 dolmen clusters, this is the one I have not visited.

Baekje Historic Areas - You are the first reviewer to visit Mireuksaji, after its full re-assembly, thoughts?

Namhansanseong - How much of the wall did you actually hike? Did you go to the ruined outer wall?

Tentative Sites (2)

Southwestern Coast Tidal Flats - No reviewer has mentioned any other site besides Suncheon, what was your impression of the Gochang tidal flats? Being Korea's nomination for 2020, it would be nice to hear more about the other serial components.

Stone Buddhas and Pagodas at Hwasun Unjusa Temple - Currently a topic on the Top Missing List, is this the best cultural site remaining on Korea's Tentative List?

I will get to work then :)

winterkjm
Reviews are in the pipeline. I did not do Namhansaneong, as I cant really addsomething new. I walked from the North Gate via the South Gate to the East Gate. So I left out the ruined part.

Stone Buddhas and Pagodas at Hwasun Unjusa Temple (100% rating based on 3 votes)

Based on the two reviews, I am starting to wonder if this site has an outsiders chance to squeeze into one of the final positions for the Top Missing! Considering how well represented Korea is, it probably won't make it though. When thinking about what is "missing" in Korea, I kept my proposals to a minimum because, well Korea has 14 world heritage sites! I learned quite a bit about Unjusa since its inclusion on the Tentative List, thanks in no small part because of both of your reviews. This is one of the last major cultural sites in the country and I will have to travel to Hwasun during my next visit.

"It would also be Korea's best world heritage site." - Philipp

"I spent around two hours exploring all the pathways and admiring every single statue and pagoda." - Philipp

"Unjusa Temple might be one of Korea's most amazing cultural tourist spot." - Zoë

"Beyond the temple are paths to more statues so don't turn back just yet." - Zoë

50 Examples of Korean Heritage on UNESCO Lists

From the Korean Heritage Webzine (special issues on UNESCO), a visual summary of 25 years of achievement in international recognition/preservation of Korean Heritage.

World Heritage Timeline 2020 - 2025

UNESCO World Heritage
2020 - Getbol, Korean Tidal Flat (awaiting IUCN Recommendation - Delayed WHC)
2021 - No Official Nomination
2022 - Gaya Tumuli
2023 - No Official Nomination (TBD: Potentially Hanyangdoseong)
2024 - Bangudae Valley (potential for Cultural Landscape)
2025 - No Official Nomination (TBD: Potentially Hanyangdoseong)

UNESCO Intangible Heritage
2020 - Yeondeunghoe, lantern lighting festival
2021 - Restricted Nomination
2022 - Korean Mask Dancing
2023 - Restricted Nomination
2024 - Making of Jang (bean paste)
2025 - Restricted Nomination

UNESCO Memory of the World [Under Comprehensive Review]

Upcoming UNESCO Global Geoparks & Biosphere Reserve Nominations
2021 - Wando County (Biosphere Reserve)
2022 - Jeonbuk, West Coast Region Geopark
2023 - Busan National Geopark

Updated Korean Tentative List 11/15/2020 - 4/15/2021 [Expected/ Not Guaranteed]

After 10 years, Korea seems on the verge of an updated tentative list (large or small is anyone's guess). Numerous symposiums have been held for aspiring nominations between 2016-2020. Several nominations have been submitted to the Cultural Heritage Administration between 2018-2020, most were rejected (my count is 7 rejections) with recommendations not dissimilar to ICOMOS 'not inscribe' evaluations. These rejections are not permanent and most seek to resubmit based on provided recommendations.

Is this a guarantee that a new tentative list will emerge, hardly. It may just be a select few sites are approved or none at all. It is very easy to find information on aspiring nominations in Korea and the Cultural Heritage Administration make their meeting notes public, making it convenient to see when nominations are approved or rejected. A handful of important "World Heritage" Meetings are scheduled over the next few months. For aspiring nominations, the magic words to type in "Google translate" are 'UNESCO Provisional List'.

Agricultural Heritage (3)
- Byeokgolje and Uirimji Reservoir (Gimje)*
- Jeju Stone Cultural Landscape
- Wando Gudeuljangnon [Cultural Landscape]

Buddhist Heritage (2)
- Goryeo Ruins of Namhan River Basin Temples in Wonju [3 Components]*
- Yangju Hoeamsa, archetype of Zen Temple in East Asia*

Confucianism (2)
- Confucian Royal Academy: Seonggyungwan Munmyo
- Seongju Royal Placenta Chambers*

Military Heritage & Fortresses (4)
- Bukhansanseong Fortress (Goyang) [Extension]*
- Dangseong Fortress (Hwaseong) [Paper: page 26 ICOMOS Thematic Study and the Eastern Silk Roads 2016]
- Doksanseong Fortress - Semadae Site (Osan)
- Maritime Fortifications: Ganghwa Island and Gimpo [Serial Nomination]*

Modern Heritage (5)
- Busan Provisional Capital and Refugee Trail [8 Components]
- Catholic Relics in Chungnam Province [Serial Nomination]*
- Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) [Transnational]
- Sorok Island [Paper: Sustainable Conservation of a Difficult Heritage in South Korea]
- Yongsan Park [Planning Stages for Urban National Park - Ongoing discussion for UNESCO Listing)

Natural Heritage (6)
- Cretaceous Dinosaur Fossil Sites [Potential for updated nomination, new components]
- Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes [2 Component Extension]
- Jirisan National Park [Potential for Mixed Heritage - Sacred Mountain]
- Mount Seorak and Mount Geumgang [Expansion of 2 TWHS into a single Transnational nomination]
- Odaesan National Park [Potential for Mixed Heritage - Sacred Mountain]
- Ulleungdo Marine Ecosystem

Prehistoric (1)
- Neolithic Sites of Korea: Amsa-dong and Osan-ri [2 Components]

Tumuli (2)
- Ruins of the Hanseong-Baekje [Extension to Baekje Historic Areas]
- Yeongsan River Basin - Ancient Tombs of Mahan (Naju)

*Application Rejected by (CHA), plans for re-submission

The Seoul City Wall (Hanyangdoseong) nomination may be expanded to include the Northern fortifications (Bukhansanseong) that protected pre-modern Seoul. This expansion would effectively double the length/size of the nomination from 12km to approximately 24km of intact protected fortifications, including part of Bukhansan National Park.

"Currently, the government is pursuing a comprehensive research, such as a plan to link Bukhansanseong and Hanyang City as a continuous heritage, and the results are expected to be seen by next year." November 2020

Moreover, the government is opening all remaining sections of the Seoul City Wall between November and this coming Spring, making a proper circumnavigation (without any detours) possible for the first time. There are plans in the works to better connect trails from Seoul City Wall with Bukhansanseong (about 5 kilometers apart), which really would add a special element to this hiking course connecting Seoul with Bukhansan National Park. Lastly, a section of the fortress around Namsan Mountain in central Seoul is now open as an archeological site. Much of this section of the fortress was largely destroyed in the 20th century, a Japanese WWII bunker is located here and the ruins of the Chōsen Shinto Shrine.

"Off-limits No More" Korea JoongAng Daily (English)

"Walking from Seoul's first park to northern city gate that overlooks Seoul" The Korean Herald (English)

"Seoul reveals traces of old Hangyang" The Korean Herald (English)

"More Mt. Bukak trails to be opened to citizens: Cheong Wa Dae" Yonhap News (English)

This expansion plan seems logical to me, since much of the fortification to protect Seoul on view today (both Hanyangdoseong and Bukhansanseong) are from Sukjong of Joseon's large-scale re-building or expansion project of the Capitals defenses between 1704 and 1714. Perhaps this nomination is reconfigured for a new submission for 2023, though that requires rapid development of a complete nomination file by January 2022. If Naganeupseong Village is not ready, the Hanyaongdoseong dossier just may fill the slot for 2023, or both nominations might look toward 2025.

winterkjm

I think overall expand the WHS Namhansanseong to include Bukhansanseong and whole city wall as Seoul Defense System, maybe easier move. It will be quite strange to list Southern defensive fortress separate from Northern and central fortress.

Dates and Origins

Hanyangdoseong, Seoul City Wall (four periods of construction: 1396 - 1422 - 1704 - 1800) *all dates in bold are clearly visible and easy to differentiate
- Circumference marks the boundaries of the dynastic capital

Namhansanseong was constructed in 1624 (Pre-Joseon remnants/origins)
- Distance from capital center (about 25km)

Bukhansanseong was constructed in 1711 (Pre-Joseon remnants/origins)
- Distance from capital center (about 9km)

Options for Nomination
1) Seoul City Wall (singular, as seen in failed 2017 nomination, but improve dossier)
2) Seoul City Wall (including Bukhansanseong, seen as natural extension based on proximity)
3) Seoul City Wall (extension including Bukhansanseong, Namhansanseong - Seoul Defensive System, re-evaluate criterion)
4) End Seoul City Wall nomination (pursue Bukhansanseong as extension to Namhansanseong)

Reasoning for Namhansanseong and Seoul City Wall to remain separate and distinct
1) Origin, preservation, design, and management are distinct enough.
2) No tangible benefits for tourism to join with Seoul City Wall.

Reasoning to connect Seoul City Wall (Hanyangdoseong) with Bukhansanseong
1) Tangchundaeseong (linked with Inwangsan Mountain section of Seoul City Wall) was built in 1713 to connect Hanyangdoseong with Bukhansanseong Fortress.
2) Origin and design are linked by King Sukjong's large-scale refurbishment of Seoul's defenses in 1704 and 1713.

Reasoning to connect Seoul City Wall and Bukhansanseong with Namhansanseong (WHS)
1) Ultimately all fortifications are connected in overall purpose to protect the capital.
2) All major components are from the Joseon Dynasty and design elements (while not uniform) are arguably not dramatically different.

Reasoning to End Seoul City Wall nomination and pursue Bukhansanseong extension to Namhansanseong (WHS)
1) Bukhansanseong was created to "fill the gap" in Seoul's defenses after the Qing invasion of Joseon, in which Namhansanseong became the last defense of the capital.
2) Components include similar length of fortifications, remnants of Temporary/Emergency Palace (ruins), Buddhist temples, and mountainous natural topography.

OUV Criteria: Namhansanseong

Criterion (ii): The system of fortifications of Namhansanseong embodies a synthesis of the art of defence in the Far East in the early 17th century. It stems from a re-examination of Chinese and Korean standards of urban fortification, and from fears aroused by new firearms from the West. Namhansanseong marks a turning point in mountain fortress design in Korea, and it went on to influence in its turn the construction of citadels in the region.

Criterion (iv): Namhansanseong is an outstanding example of a fortified city. Designed in the 17th century as an emergency capital for the Joseon dynasty, it was built and then defended by Buddhist soldier-monks who respected pre-existing traditions already in place.

Proposed OUV Criteria: Hanyangdoseong, Seoul City Wall *Criteria would require adjustment if Bukhansanseong is included or extension is pursued

Criterion (iii): The original shapes of the gate towers and main wall are intact, providing a clear look at the traditions followed at the time of construction. Currently, 12.854km of the original 18.627km wall has been preserved or restored, making this the longest among the traditional city walls that remain around the world. The foundations for some of the unrestored parts endure as well. The Joseon dynasty lasted for around five centuries, the longest Confucian dynasty in all of East Asia, and Hanyangdoseong protected the Joseon capital during all that time. Moreover, repair and reconstruction projects were conducted periodically during Joseon, and these were detailed in written records that survive, while the wall itself provides physical evidence of the wall-building techniques and styles employed at different times.

Criterion (iv): The location of the Hanyangdoseong was decided according to the theories of geomancy and the topography of Korean Peninsula, while the walls follow the ridgelines between the four inner mountains. The walls were built of stone and supported from behind by layered soil and rock that gently slopes to blend into the landscape. The walls' use of the natural terrain, the contours of the four inner mountains, and the look of the wall on both sides combine for wonderfully scenic view in an urban area.

My Flickr Albums:
- Hanyangdoseong, the Seoul City Wall
- Bukhansan Fortress
- Namhansanseong

*Notice: There is an indication of a "connecting" fortress near the Inwangsan [top left] section of the Seoul City Wall. In 2015, plans to restore and preserve this fortification gained traction, previously this site had been largely unprotected and ignored. "Tangchundaeseong Fortress and Hongjimun Gate were built to connect the Seoul City Wall with Bukhansanseong Fortress. Construction of the fortress began in 1713." There is a strong hiking culture in Seoul and linking the popular hikes along Seoul City Wall with Bukhansan National Park via a cultural route that is a contiguous world heritage site? I would actually be surprised if this route was not pursued.

Petroglyphs in Bangudae Valley (renamed from Daegokcheon Stream Petroglyphs) will be Korea's next nomination following Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats (2020) and Gaya Tumuli (2022). An announcement from the Cultural Heritage Administration has approved this TWHS as the next "priority nomination". An exact timeline is not forthcoming from (CHA), but some news reports indicate 2025 as the hopeful date of inscription. "Ulsan City is promoting academic research and domestic and international comparative studies on the Daegokcheon petroglyphs with the goal of being listed as a World Heritage site in 2025." This may lend further credence to the reported efforts to reformat the Hanyangdoseong, Seoul City Wall nomination to include Bukhansanseong as a continuous heritage, therefore requiring a couple years of research and discussion to re-submit a complete nomination. Therefore, we might conclude with fairly high certainty that Korea will have no official nominations for 2023 and 2024. This could off course change, but Naganeupseong (which might be the next priority nomination), does not seem to be at an advanced stage at this point in time.

https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/view.do?ncd=5119048