The National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage under the Korea Heritage Service signed an agreement with Goheung County on Tuesday to systematically research and utilize maritime heritage on islands in the region.
The signing ceremony took place at Paryeongsan Hall in the Goheung County Office in South Jeolla Province. Institute Director Lee Eun-seok and Goheung County Governor Gong Young-min established a mutual cooperation framework for investigating and preserving maritime heritage in the county's island areas. Goheung County is home to the Naro Space Center, Korea's primary space launch facility.
The agreement aims to comprehensively survey and document the historical, academic, and regional characteristics of island maritime heritage facing extinction risks due to climate change and population decline. The findings will serve as foundational data for preservation, management, and regional revitalization policies.
Under the agreement, both institutions will cooperate on systematic investigation and documentation of maritime heritage in Goheung's island regions. The comprehensive survey will cover tangible heritage including archaeological sites, historical artifacts, folklore, and traditional architecture, as well as intangible heritage such as traditional livelihoods and local history, and natural heritage including environmental and geological features.
The two parties will jointly utilize and share materials and research outcomes produced during investigations. They plan to conduct collaborative projects including academic events, exhibitions, and educational programs using survey results. Resident briefings and on-site report sessions will be held to return research outcomes to local communities.
This year's survey targets Deungnyang Island and Sisan Island areas. The National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage will oversee survey planning and academic research as the supervising institution, while Goheung County will support smooth operations through local administrative assistance and resident cooperation systems.
The Korea Heritage Service stated that both institutions plan to continuously supplement and deepen survey content through phased investigations and expert advisory meetings. They will accumulate and disseminate research outcomes through various methods including publishing maritime heritage survey reports and producing video documentation.