Gimhae, South Korea – The city of Gimhae is set to become the central hub for preserving and promoting the Gaya Tomb Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The establishment of the "Gaya Tomb Complex World Heritage Unified Management Organization" has been confirmed, marking a significant milestone for the revitalization of the Gaya historical and cultural heritage in Gyeongnam Province.

Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in September 2023, the Gaya Tomb Complex is scattered across seven cities and counties in Gyeongnam and North Gyeongsang Provinces, as well as Namwon City in North Jeolla Province. This invaluable heritage encompasses the secrets of the ancient Gaya confederacy, which flourished in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula from the 1st to the 6th centuries.

A Year-Long Competition

For over a year, the seven cities and counties home to the Gaya tombs have been fiercely competing to host the unified management organization. Gimhae City and Goryeong County in North Gyeongsang Province, in particular, engaged in a heated rivalry to secure the establishment of the organization within their respective jurisdictions. Following UNESCO's recommendation to establish a unified management body for the dispersed tombs, a joint committee of the ten local governments conducted a study and selected Gimhae City as the top candidate.

The unified management organization, to be established as a foundation, will consist of one division (administrative office), one team (planning and cooperation team), and three teams (management, education and publicity, and preservation and research). The organization is expected to have around 16 members, including a chairman, and an annual operating budget of 2.8 to 3.8 billion won.

A Control Tower for Gaya's History and Culture

The organization is slated to be located within the National Gaya History and Culture Center in Gimhae, which opened in September 2022. The center, built with a total investment of 37.7 billion won, houses a storage facility, exhibition halls, a lecture hall, a document storage room, a preservation processing room, and a research laboratory.

The unified management organization will serve as a control tower, overseeing the preservation, management, and utilization of the Gaya Tomb Complex. Its key responsibilities will include:

Developing comprehensive plans for the preservation, management, and utilization of the seven tomb complexes.
Conducting regular inspections of the tombs to assess their condition and develop conservation measures.
Supporting academic research on Gaya history and culture.
Promoting international academic exchanges.
Developing tourism products and promoting the Gaya Tomb Complex as a world heritage site.

Challenges Ahead

While Gyeongnam Province is eager to revitalize the Gaya historical and cultural heritage through the establishment of the unified management organization, several challenges must be addressed to ensure its success. These include:

Strengthening cooperation among the ten local governments involved.
Fostering the development of specialized personnel in the field of Gaya history and culture.
Ensuring equitable management and utilization of all tomb complexes.
Increasing public participation and raising awareness of Gaya history and culture.