[2026 Parliamentary Audit] China Begins Laying Groundwork for Balhae World Heritage Bid... Government to Prepare "Proactive Response Strategy"

Jilin Province explicitly stated in an official document last year that it would "pursue World Heritage status for Balhae fortress sites and burial complexes"
Strategic planning contract worth 1.35 million yuan commissioned in January; China Cultural Heritage Research Institute to carry it out
Not yet on UNESCO's Tentative List... Lawmakers say, "It will be too late to respond after the process begins"
Korea Heritage Service Commissioner Heo Min: "I will draw up a detailed plan and report back"

It was confirmed that China has begun developing strategies in earnest to secure UNESCO World Heritage status for Balhae sites, putting the need for a proactive government response under scrutiny during a parliamentary audit. Balhae heritage sites have not yet been added to China's UNESCO Tentative List, but local governments have already made their efforts to secure World Heritage status official and commissioned work on a strategic plan.

National Heritage Administration Commissioner Heo Min answers questions from members of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee during an audit of the agency at the National Assembly on the 8th. Yonhap News

During a parliamentary audit by the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on Oct. 8, Korea Heritage Service Commissioner Heo Min was asked about China's efforts to secure World Heritage status for Balhae heritage sites and the response to the so-called Northeast Project. He replied, "I think we need to do a really good job," adding, "I will draw up a detailed plan and report back."

China's moves, confirmed during this audit, began taking shape last year.

In its "Implementation Opinions on Promoting High-Quality Development of the Cultural Industry," announced in July last year, Jilin Province explicitly said it would "pursue World Heritage status for the fortress sites and burial complexes of the Balhae Kingdom," alongside strengthening protection of Goguryeo cultural heritage.

Late last year, the Culture, Broadcasting, Television and Tourism Bureau of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture commissioned a "Project to Establish a Strategic Plan for Securing World Heritage Status for Balhae Sites." After two rounds of failed bids, the China Cultural Heritage Research Institute won the contract in January this year for 1,352,500 yuan. The contract period is one year from the date it was signed.

In effect, local Chinese governments have begun preparatory work to define the scope and value of the heritage and develop strategies for pursuing World Heritage status. In July this year, the Jilin Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology also separately commissioned a systematic archaeological survey of Balhae sites in the Hailan River basin.

As of October 2026, 60 sites from China are listed on UNESCO's World Heritage Tentative List, none of them related to Balhae. To pursue World Heritage status, a country generally must first add a site to its Tentative List, then go through procedures including preparing a nomination dossier, review by advisory bodies, and an on-site inspection. China's current moves can therefore be seen as a preparatory stage to refine its case for nomination and identify heritage sites before adding them to the Tentative List.

During the audit, lawmakers said a response was needed from this very stage.

Bae Hyunjin of the People Power Party said, "China has already begun developing a detailed strategy at the local-government level to secure World Heritage status." She criticized the Korea Heritage Service for stopping short of a response until formal procedures, such as adding sites to UNESCO's Tentative List, have begun.

Committee Chair Lee Jaejung also cited China's 2004 World Heritage listing of Goguryeo sites, saying, "Once the wording related to a listing and the interpretation of history have been established, it is difficult to revise them." Her point was that academic arguments and international networks to explain Balhae's historical character and the value of its heritage should be built up before China's nomination process begins.

An information board featuring a bird's-eye view of the reconstructed Balhae palace stands at the ruins of Sang-gyeong Yongcheonbu, the capital of Balhae, in Ning'an, Heilongjiang Province, China. As Jilin Province and other Chinese authorities begin developing a strategy to have Balhae sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the need for a proactive response regarding Balhae's historical identity and the value of its heritage is being raised. Yonhap News

There are substantial differences between Chinese and South Korean accounts of Balhae history. Local gazetteer materials from Jilin Province describe Balhae as a "local ethnic regime" established in China's northeastern region with the Mohe people as its core, emphasizing that it was a local regime subordinate to the Tang dynasty. Official materials from Jilin Province published in March this year likewise described Balhae as "a local ethnic regime established in China's northeastern region."

By contrast, materials from South Korean scholars and the National Institute of Korean History say that Dae Joyeong founded Balhae with Goguryeo refugees at its center, and that Goguryeo's legacy was clearly reflected in its ruling class and culture. They identify elements inherited from Goguryeo culture, including ondol underfloor heating, burial styles, and urban planning, architecture, and art, as important features.

Accordingly, a potential point of contention is how China connects the "outstanding universal value" of Balhae sites to its historical narrative in a future World Heritage nomination dossier.

The previous World Heritage listings of Goguryeo sites raised similar issues. In 2004, China secured World Heritage status for the "Capital Cities and Tombs of the Ancient Koguryo Kingdom" in Liaoning and Jilin provinces, while North Korea separately listed the "Complex of Koguryo Tombs" in and around Pyongyang that same year.

UNESCO currently describes Goguryeo as a kingdom that existed across northeastern China and the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. Although it does not define Goguryeo as the exclusive history of any one country, concerns have been raised about the need for an early response to the Balhae case, given that the research and explanatory framework developed during the nomination process could influence how the international community understands history.

The Korea Heritage Service's limited capacity to respond was also pointed out. Commissioner Heo said, "There is really a lot to do, including addressing the Northeast Project," but added, "An organization responsible for World Heritage work was recently established within the Korea Heritage Service, but in many cases, we lack staff to carry out work overseas."

Committee Chair Lee urged the Korea Heritage Service not only to cooperate with relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but also to maintain ongoing contact with international experts, including those at the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), to explain Balhae's historical background and the value of its heritage.

Commissioner Heo replied that he was communicating with international experts in his personal capacity, adding, "I think we need to wake up and start anew. I will prepare a detailed plan and report back."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.