The Wanju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (under the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Korea Heritage Service, Director: Lee Kyu-hoon), together with Gochang-gun County (Governor: Sim Deok-seop), will host an International Conference on October 16 at 10:00 a.m. at the Gochang Wellpark Hotel Convention Center. The conference will focus on the theme:

“Re-examining the Value of the Gochang Dolmen World Heritage Site and Future Directions.”

The Gochang Dolmen Site is home to hundreds of dolmens, internationally renowned for their diversity and density, including table-type, go-board-type, and capstone-type forms. Recognizing its outstanding value, the site was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, together with the Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites. Since its inscription, ongoing surveys and research have supported systematic conservation and management of the site.

* Table-type dolmen(卓子式): a chamber built above ground with flagstones and covered with a capstone * Go-board-type dolmen(碁盤式): a chamber built with supporting stones placed around it and covered with a capstone * Capstone-type dolmen(蓋石式): a chamber built underground and covered directly with a capstone without supporting stones

This conference aims to re-examine the value of the Gochang Dolmen Site as a World Heritage property and to compare it with the latest research findings and conservation practices of megalithic monuments worldwide. Through these discussions, the conference seeks to outline a blueprint to further enhance the site’s status as an internationally recognized megalithic monument.

The conference program includes a keynote lecture, seven presentations, and a comprehensive discussion. The keynote lecture, ▲ ‘The Value of the World Heritage and Significance of Gochang Dolmen Site(Lee Young-moon, Research Centre of Dolmens in Northeast Asia)’ will be delivered. The following six thematic presentations will cover: ▲ ‘Research Results and Future Tasks of the World Heritage Gochang Dolmen Site(Jeong Da-un?Park In-young, Wanju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage)’, ▲ ‘Current Status of preservation and management of the World Heritage Gochang Dolmen Site and Future Utilization Plans(Jang Choong-hee, Jeonbuk Institute)’, ▲ ‘Latest Research results and Conservation management status of Stonehenge in the U.K.(Heather Sebire, English Heritage)’, ▲ ‘Latest Research results and Conservation management status of India Umbrella Stones(Arun Malik, Archaeological Survey of India)’, ▲ ‘Latest Research results and Conservation management status of the dolmens of Savu Island, Indonesia(Rangga Aditya Dachlan, Universitas Gadjah Mada)’, ▲ ‘Latest Research results and Conservation management status of status of the Oyu-Stone Circles megalithic monument in Japan(Simon Kaner, Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures)’.

After the presentations, a comprehensive discussion will be chaired by Lee Young-moon, director of the Research Centre of Dolmens in Northeast Asia, joined by experts in megalithic monuments including Cho Jin-son (Jeonnam National University), Kim Kyu-jeong (Jeonbuk Cultural Property Research Institute), Ko Il-hong (Seoul National University Asia Research Institute), Yoon Ho-pil (Sangju Museum), Yoon Deok-hyang (Former Jeonbuk National University), and Choi Wan-kyu (Former Wonkwang University), and the presenters.

The conference is open to all, with pre-registration available via the QR code on the poster or on-site registration on the day of the event. For further inquiries, please contact +82-063-290-9324.

Through this international conference, the NRICH and the Wanju National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage aim to foster sustained academic exchange with domestic and international experts in megalithic studies. They also seek to further enhance the Gochang Dolmen Site’s global status through systematic research.