Kumgangsan’s UNESCO Listing: A Step Towards Healing the Korean Divide?

Could UNESCO’s Kumgangsan Listing Spark a New Era of Inter-Korean Cooperation?

Article Snapshot: As North Korea’s Kumgangsan joins the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage list, there’s a buzz of excitement about potential teamwork between the two Koreas in preserving their shared Buddhist cultural treasures.

[1] The UNESCO World Heritage Committee’s decision to crown North Korea’s Kumgangsan as a World Heritage Site during its 47th session in Paris on Sunday has ignited fresh hopes for a thaw in inter-Korean relations.

renew: to make new again

cooperation: collaboration

[2] This latest accolade marks North Korea’s hat-trick on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. It follows the 2013 listing of Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong and the 2004 inscription of the Complex of Koguryo Tombs.

inscribed: entered on the list

[3] Back in 2021, North Korea threw its hat in the ring, applying for Kumgangsan to be recognized as a mixed heritage site by UNESCO. The application highlighted the mountain’s rich tapestry of Buddhist traditions and centuries-old practices of mountain worship and pilgrimage. However, the COVID-19 pandemic put the brakes on the review process, which only got back on track this year.

heritage: legacy

reflect: to show

[4] Picture this: a stunning granite mountain range with peaks that kiss the sky at over 1,600 meters, dramatically plunging down to meet the sea. That’s Kumgangsan for you, officially known as Mount Kumgang or “Diamond Mountain from the Sea.” It’s a jaw-dropping spectacle of nature, boasting dazzling white granite peaks, deep valleys that seem to whisper ancient secrets, cascading waterfalls, and an ecosystem so pristine it’ll take your breath away.

granite: a type of rock

picturesque: visually attractive

pristine: in its original condition

Original Article: https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10531159

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