KharBukhiin Balgas Site in Mongolia is where a joint survey between Korea and Mongolia is being done this year. (Korea Heritage Service)

By Margareth Theresia

A joint survey with Mongolia has been launched on the KharBukhiin Balgas Site, a government-designated place of Mongolian architectural heritage.

The Korea Heritage Service on July 14 said it will conduct through July 22 safety inspections and surveys of the site's preservation status in cooperation with the National Center for Cultural Heritage, an affiliate of the Mongolian Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth.

The study is a follow-up measure under a bilateral memorandum of understanding signed last year on exchange and cooperation for cultural heritage safety and disaster prevention as well as working-level accords.

The site in Mongolia's Bulgan region includes a fortress built in the 10th century and the ruins of a Buddhist temple from the 17th century.

This is the fourth survey between both sides since the first in 2022 on the 16th-century Erdene Zuu Monastery in the Mongolian town of Kharkhorin.

The study focused on comprehensive inspections of the structural safety and preservation status of cultural heritage, with priority on fortresses and temples.

A complete report on the survey's findings is slated for publication in 2027.

The two countries will use this study to boost bilateral technology exchanges in cultural heritage safety and disaster prevention and cooperation between professionals in the field.

margareth@korea.kr