A Study on the Heritage Value Conservation of the World Heritage Suwon Hwaseong through Value-based Approach

Abstract

Suwon Hwaseong Fortress was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1997 for its value as an 18th-century military fortification reflecting advanced military technology from the East and the West. However, Suwon citizens recognize Suwon Hwaseong Fortress as a fortress and a new city created by King Jeongjo. World Heritage OUV does not match the local value recognized by the region. The current World Heritage Program emphasizes multifaceted interpretations of values, as emphasizing only one Outstanding Universal Value would establish a false hierarchy in terms of conservation. Reflecting the changes in the World Heritage discourse, this study tried to review the heritage values, including the OUV and local values of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress, and find ways to protect both OUV and local values together in the protection and management system. To this end, a survey was conducted among stakeholders, and the value of heritage was categorized based on the results of the survey. To conserve the heritage value derived after the survey, this study suggests the use of the World Heritage OUV statement, the ‘statement of significance’ of the value-based approach, and ‘individual statements describing the importance of each component expressing value.