Obongsan Gudeuljang Quarry of Obongsan Mountain officially inscribed as registered cultural heritage

▲ This photo, provided by Boseong County, shows Obongsan Gudeuljang Road (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Apr. 28 (Yonhap) -- South Jeolla Province announced on the 28th that the Obongsan Gudeuljang Quarry of Obongsan Mountain has been officially inscribed as a registered cultural heritage by the Cultural Heritage Administration.

The Obongsan Gudeuljang Quarry is the largest quarrying site in South Korea.

Operated for 50 years, from the 1930s to the early 1980s, it is responsible for 70% of South Korea's production.

"As it is a place where gudeuljang, a key material of the Korean Ondol culture, was collected, and has relatively well preserved relics (quarries and transport paths) that helped in the industrial development, it is worth being registered as a cultural heritage," the Cultural Heritage Administration explained.

Boseong county has systematically organized the history of ondol, Korea's traditional indoor heating system, and Gudeuljang, the basis of ondol, and also highlighted its excellence.

Starting with the feasibility research in January 2021, the historical and mineral excellence of the Gudeuljang quarry has been proven through dozens of field investigations, investigation on sodalguji road, interviews and international academic seminars by a variety of experts.

Boseong county plans to hold a special exhibition to commemorate the registration of cultural heritage under the theme of "Stones Embracing The Warmth, Obongsan Gudeuljang" in the special exhibition room of the Tea Museum of Korea.

"We will cooperate closely with the government so that it can be preserved and used with the dignity of the registered cultural heritage, and we will also actively discuss with the government regarding the registration as a world cultural heritage," Deputy Governor Park Woo-yuk of Boseong county said.

Additionally, the wagon roads left in this quarry were also designated as a "National Forest Cultural Asset" by the Korea Forest Service last December.

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Haemin Kim.)

(END)

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved