Excavated human bones and mummies legally protected

▲ This photo, provided by the Cultural Heritage Administration, shows the human bones found in Tap-dong in Gyeongju. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Jan. 22(Yonhap) -- The legal basis in South Korea has been established for scientific research and storage of human bones and mummies, which are important data to identify the past environment and lifestyle of the ancients. 

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on Jan. 22 that the amendment of Act on Protection and Inspection of Buried Cultural Heritage has been proclaimed in order to research and store the human bones and mummies excavated in districts of buried cultural properties after informing the authorities of cultural heritage and being investigated by two or more experts.

The existing Act on Protection and Inspection of Buried Cultural Heritage stipulated cultural heritage only as tangible cultural heritage buried underground and underwater, and natural caves and fossils deposited on the ground surface. The human bones were not included in cultural heritage, so there were many cases of cremation or re-burying since there was no place to leave it even when discovered.

However, regulations to regard human bones and mummies as cultural heritage have been established, and it is expected that the study of ancient human bones will be activated. The amendment allows the head of the Cultural Heritage Administration to designate a specialized institution and support funds to the institution for deliberate research and storage of significant excavated relics.

However, in order to store human bones for the research, there should be a relative or a relative must agree.

The law amendment will take effect 6 months later.

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