Sources : 'UNESCO and Heritage' by the Korean National Commission for UNESCO

Fundamental Principles

The assessment of World Heritage inscription is based on three fundamental principles:

• Integrity – The property must possess the necessary elements to express its Outstanding Universal Value
• Authenticity – The cultural values must be genuinely and credibly expressed through various attributes
• Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) – The property must possess OUV as defined by the inscription criteria

Others: Conservation Management Plan – An appropriate conservation and management plan must be established and implemented

Authenticity

The cultural values of the property (as recognized by the proposed inscription criteria) must be genuinely and credibly expressed through the following attributes:

• Form and design
• Use and function
• Traditions, techniques, and management systems
• Location and setting
• Language and other forms of intangible heritage
• Spirit and feeling, and other internal and external factors

Integrity

Integrity assessment considers:

• Completeness – The extent to which all necessary elements to express the Outstanding Universal Value are included
• Sufficiency of scale – Whether the property is of sufficient size to adequately convey its inherent significance and essential processes
• State of condition – The extent to which the property faces challenges from development and/or neglect

Cultural Criteria

Inscription Criteria - World Heritage properties must satisfy one or more of the following ten criteria:

• Cultural Criteria (i–vi)
  1. ⅰRepresent a masterpiece of human creative genius
  2. ⅱExhibit important human interchange of values, over a long period or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture, technology, monumental arts, town planning, or landscape design
  3. ⅲExhibit important human interchange of values, over a long period or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture, technology, monumental arts, town planning, or landscape design
  4. ⅳBe outstanding examples of types of buildings, architectural or technological ensembles and landscapes that illustrate significant stages in human history
  5. ⅴBe outstanding examples of traditional settlements, land-use, or sea-use that is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment, especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change
  6. ⅵBe directly or tangibly associated with events, living traditions, ideas, beliefs, or artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance (the Committee considers that this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria)
• Natural Criteria (vii–x)
  1. ⅶContain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance
  2. ⅷBe outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or physiographic features
  3. ⅸBe outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh-water, coastal, and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals
  4. ⅹContain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation