World Heritage Sites
World Heritage Sites are places of significant historical or scholarly value that humanity collectively aims to preserve. These sites are categorized into cultural heritage, natural heritage, and mixed heritage. South Korea has 16 World Heritage Sites (including those in North Korea), of which 14 are cultural heritage sites, and two are natural heritage sites.
In South Korea, World Heritage Sites are mostly located in the Seoul Metropolitan Area (five sites) and Gyeongsangbuk-do (three sites). Seoul, which has served as the capital for over 600 years since the founding of the Joseon dynasty in 1392, is home to numerous royal tombs, palaces, and Confucian shrines. Suwon houses Hwaseong Fortress, while Namhansanseong Fortress is located in Gwangju. Gyeongju, the capital of the Silla dynasty, hosts Bulguksa Temple, Seokguram Grotto, and the Gyeongju historic areas, where one can trace the history of Silla. The Korean historical village of Yangdong in Gyeongju also provides insights into the aristocratic culture that flourished during the Joseon period. The Hahoe Folk Village, a representative clan village and aristocratic settlement in Korea, is located in Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Two are located in Gyeongsangnam-do (Haeinsa
Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana, and Gaya Tumuli) and one in Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Incheon Metropolitan City (the Dolmen Sites of Gochang, Hwasun, and Ganghwa). Jeju Special Self-Governing Province hosts one site (the Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes), which is divided into three zones: Hallasan Natural Reserve, Geomunoreum Lava Tube System, and Seongsan Ilchulbong Tuff Cone. Furthermore, Chungcheong-do and Jeollado have two sites (the Baekje Historic Areas and the Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats), while Gyeongsang-do, Jeolla-do, and Chungcheong-do have two sites (the Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea, and the Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies).
When categorized by type, burial mounds represent a significant proportion of World Heritage Sites. These include dolmen sites from the Bronze Age, stone mound tombs from the Goguryeo period, and royal tombs from the Silla and Joseon periods. 
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
In 2023, the Gaya Tumuli was added to the World Heritage list. The tombs reflect the worldviews and funeral and ritual traditions of their respective eras. Alongside the tombs, architectural structures also constitute a large proportion of sites. Changdeokgung Palace showcases a harmonious blend
of architecture and landscape against a natural backdrop, while the wooden buildings of the Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon are meticulously designed to maintain proper ventilation, humidity, and temperature, ensuring the preservation of the Tripitaka Koreana woodblocks to this day. Historic areas are situated in the former capitals of the Silla and Goryeo periods, comprising outstanding architectural structures, monuments, and relics from each era. Fortresses like Namhansanseong Fortress and Suwon Hwaseong Fortress in the east and south of Gyeonggido served defensive purposes alongside Kaesong to the north and Ganghwa to the west, demonstrating historic significance and academic value in fortification techniques. Other notable sites include historical villages preserving Korean traditions and structures like Jongmyo Shrine. The historical villages of Hahoe and Yangdong, where residents still live today, reflect the social structures and Confucian traditions of the Joseon period. Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea showcases the development of Korean Buddhism, with various Buddhist beliefs preserved in the historical structures, halls, artifacts, and documents of the mountain monasteries. Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies, spread and implemented Neo- Confucianism, the core ideology of the Joseon era, and serve as evidence of cultural traditions related to Neo-Confucianism that continue to exist in educational and social customs today. Jongmyo Shrine embodies both the artistic value of its architecture and the traditions of rituals, music, and dance honoring the royal family. Natural Heritage Sites include the Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes and the Korean Tidal Flats, which encompass four areas: Seocheon Tidal Flat, Gochang Tidal Flat, Shinan Tidal Flat, and Boseong-Suncheon Tidal Flat.
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Intangible Cultural Heritage represents a traditional culture that is still alive and practiced. According to UNESCO, intangible cultural heritage encompasses knowledge, skills, performing arts, and cultural expressions that communities and groups have continuously recreated in response to their environment, nature, and history.
Since 2001 (and as of 2024), 23 items from South Korea have been inscribed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Intangible Cultural Heritage includes various cultural elements to maintain cultural diversity and creativity, making it valuable for understanding the universality of Korean culture.
Categorized by type, there are five items related to rituals or ceremonies, six to games, and four to songs. Additionally, there is one each for Daemokjang (traditional wooden architecture), falconry, tightrope walking, Taekkyeon (a traditional martial art), Hansan ramie weaving, kimchi-making culture, and Jeju Haenyeo (women divers)
Memory of the World is a UNESCO program that has been selecting documents of global value every two years since 1997 to preserve and utilize valuable records worldwide. Memory of the World includes various types of records such as books, documents, and letters.
Most of South Korea's Memory of the World items are books, with some diaries and records. Since the first two inscriptions in 1997, the number has steadily increased every two years, with Donghak Peasant Revolution Records and April 19th Revolution Records added in 2023. As of 2024, there are 18 items inscribed. This number ranks first in Asia and fifth globally, demonstrating South Korea's stature as a leading country in record culture. Among these, the Hunminjeongeum, Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, Diaries of the Royal Secretariat, Haeinsa Temple's Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks and Miscellaneous Buddhist Scriptures, Ilseongnok and War Diary of Admiral Yi Sun-sin are designated as National Treasures, while the Donguibogam is designated as a Treasure.
Some Memory of the World items, such as the Uigwe, Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty, Records of the May 18th Democratic Uprising, and Records of the Saemaul Undong (New Community Movement), are preserved in multiple locations. The Jikji, the world's oldest extant book printed with movable metal type, was taken overseas during the reign of King Gojong and is now kept at the National Library of France. North Korea's UNESCO Memory of the World item is the Muye Dobo Tongji (Comprehensive Illustrated Manual of Martial Arts), inscribed in 2017, and is preserved in Pyongyang and Seoul.
Our country actively engages in cultural exchange with other nations through various international exchange organizations, including the Korea Foundation, the Korean Cultural Center, and the King Sejong Institute Foundation.
Established in 1991, the Korea Foundation (KF) is a public institution under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dedicated to enhancing the international community's understanding of Korea through cultural, academic, and people-to-people exchanges. The foundation has eight overseas offices in seven countries: the United States, China, Germany, Russia, Vietnam, Japan, and Indonesia. It promotes Korean culture worldwide through support for Korean studies research, cultural events,
performances, and public diplomacy activities. As of 2023, the foundation has established a total of 161 professorships in Korean studies at overseas universities, supported Korean research for 12,254 scholars, and organized 185 exhibitions related to Korea in overseas museums.
Korean Cultural Centers are institutions under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, established in major cities around the world to introduce Korean culture and promote cultural exchange with local communities. Currently, there are 35 Korean Cultural Centers operating in 30 countries. These centers offer a variety of programs, including exhibitions, performances, film screenings, Korean language education, and Korean cooking classes, to help locals experience Korean culture firsthand.
Founded in 2012, the King Sejong Institute Foundation is an organization under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism established to promote Korean language and culture worldwide. The King Sejong Institutes offer Korean language education and cultural experience opportunities to foreigners, enhancing their understanding and interest in Korea. There are 248 Sejong Institutes in 85 countries around the world, with 117,636 students enrolled in 2022. The number of Korean language teachers dispatched abroad through the Sejong Institutes has significantly increased from 14 locations in 11 countries in 2012 to 133 locations in 61 countries in 2022.
The Korean Wave 
The Korean Wave, which began in the late 1990s, refers to the global spread Korean Associative Images of Korean popular culture and has garnered numerous fans worldwide. Initially, the term mainly referred to Korean dramas and music, but it has now expanded to include various fields such as film, fashion, beauty, and food. As of 2023, there are a total of 1,748 Korean Wave fan clubs in 114 countries, with approximately 230 million members. The distribution of fan clubs is highest in Thailand (123), Russia (120), China (102), and the United States (91). In terms of membership numbers, China leads with 100 million members, followed by Mexico with 28 million, Thailand with 20 million, the United States with 17 million, and Vietnam with 12 million.
According to the 2024 Overseas Korean Wave Survey by the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange, the popularity of the Korean Wave is highest in the following order: drama, beauty, film, variety shows, and food. Over the past seven years, the most prominent associative image of Korea has consistently been K-pop, followed by Korean cuisine, dramas, IT products, and beauty products. K-pop enjoys widespread popularity in many countries. On average, individuals who experience Korean music listen to it for 11.4 hours per month, with countries like India and Thailand having listening times close to 20 hours per month. Among K-pop artists, BTS and Blackpink are particularly favored. BTS, in particular, has made a significant impact by representing the youth and future generations in speeches at the UN General Assembly, bringing hope to young
people around the world.
The Korean Wave has also made significant strides in the field of esports. Korea is recognized as a global powerhouse in esports, achieving excellent results in various games such as League of Legends (LoL), StarCraft, and Overwatch. The country participated in the Hangzhou Asian Games, where esports was officially included as a sport, and won two gold medals, one silver medal, and one bronze medal. In Korea, there are currently 398 professional esports players, and 403 professional players have ventured abroad. As of 2022, the domestic esports industry has a scale of approximately KRW 150 billion with its size growing annually. The League of Legends World Championship held in Korea in 2023 attracted numerous international fans, and the event is estimated to have generated an economic impact of around KRW 200 billion. With the global increase in the esports industry and consumer market, revenue from esports is expected to continue rising.
Director Bong Joon-ho's film Parasite made history as the first foreign-language film to win both the Palme d'Or and the Academy Award, showcasing the artistic quality of Korean cinema to the world. Based on this excellence, Korea's film and video market has generated substantial global revenue. As of 2023, the global box office revenue is approximately USD 36 billion, with Korea ranking ninth with a revenue of USD 1.24 billion. Koreans have an average of 2.44 movie viewings per person per year (eighth in the world). In 2019, Korea ranked first globally with 4.4 viewings per person per year. As of 2023, the revenue of Korea's video market is about KRW 130 billion. Starting with Netflix's Kingdom and Persona in 2019, a total of nine over-the-top (OTT) platforms have produced original Korean films and series. A total of 34 films and 156 series have been produced and released. Notably, as of 2024, Squid Game holds records for the longest viewing time with 2.2 billion hours and the most plays with 265.2 million among Netflix content.