National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage to Conduct Joint Survey of KharBukhiin Balgas Site in Mongolia (July 15-22)

- On 10C fortress and 17C Buddhist temple in Mongolia (July 15-22) -

The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage(Director General Lim Jong-deok; hereafter, the NRICH), an affiliate of Korea Heritage Service, in collaboration with the National Center for Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture of Mongolia (Director Galbadrakh Enkhbat), will jointly conduct safety inspections and preservation status surveys of the 'KharBukhiin Balgas Site,' a state-designated architectural heritage (fortress and temple) in Mongolia, from July 15th to 22nd.

This joint survey is part of the ongoing exchange and cooperation between the research institutions of both countries, which began in 2017. It's being carried out in accordance with the newly signed "Korea-Mongolia Cultural Heritage Safety and Disaster Prevention Exchange and Cooperation" Memorandum of Understanding (MOU, July 2024 - June 2027) and practical agreements from last year.
Key provisions of the MOU include:
▷ Sharing the latest information and technologies related to cultural heritage in both countries
▷ Jointly conducting field surveys of architectural cultural heritage and publishing results
▷ Education and personnel exchanges concerning architectural cultural heritage safety and disaster prevention

This year marks the fourth survey to be conducted in Mongolia, following the 2022-2024 surveys (1st to 3rd phases). The target is the 'KharBukhiin Balgas Site' in the Bulgan region of Mongolia, which includes of a 10th-century fortress and a 17th-century temple ruin. The survey team will inspect the overall status of the target architectural cultural heritage, including its structural stability and material preservation, and discuss preservation and management plans for the site accordingly.

* 1st Survey (2022): Erdene Zuu Monastery(Uvurkhangai Province/16C Buddhist monastery)
2nd Survey (2023): Sum Khukh Monastery(Dundgobi Province/10C Buddhist monastery)
Bogd Khaan Palace(Ulaanbaatar/19C Buddhist monastery and palace)
3rd Survey (2024): Tsogtyn Tsagaan Baishin Castle(Bulgan Province/16C castle)
Gandantegchinlen Monastery(Ulaanbaatar/19C Buddhist monastery)

This joint survey is expected to further vitalize technical support and personnel exchanges in the safety and disaster prevention of cultural heritage. This will help accumulate fundamental data for the preservation and management of Mongolian cultural heritage, strengthen the survey and research capabilities of Mongolian researchers in the safety and disaster prevention of cultural heritage, and ultimately contribute to fostering friendly relations between the two countries. Furthermore, both institutions plan to hold a report session in 2026 to share the results of their joint surveys to date, and will also publish a joint survey report in 2027.

The NRICH plans to continue its ongoing exchange and cooperation with research institutions in Mongolia and other countries to establish a systematic foundation for the preservation and utilization of East Asian cultural heritage.