Guidelines on the Opening of the Namhansanseong Cultural Heritage
Article 1 (Purpose)
The purpose of these guidelines is to prescribe matters regarding the public opening of the cultural heritages of the world heritage site at Namhansanseong in accordance with the Cultural Heritage Protection Act and the Cultural Heritage Charter.
Article 2 (Definition)
The definitions of the terms used in these guidelines are as follows:
- 1. The term “general opening” refers to the opening of public areas during daily opening hours.
- 2. The term “special opening” refers to the opening of a specific area upon determining the number of visitors, visit hours, etc.
- 3. The term “restrictions on opening” refers to the closing of all or a part of the areas to the public by limiting the number of visitors and visit hours so as to prevent damage to the cultural heritages, to secure the safety of visitors, and to hold major events.
Article 3 (Opening)
① The Head of the Namhansanseong World Heritage Centre (hereinafter referred to as “the Head of the Center”) shall open the cultural heritages of Namhansanseong (hereinafter referred to as “cultural heritages”) to the public provided that there is no impediment to the preservation and management of the cultural assets.
② The hours of opening and facility usage, collection of the admission fee and facility usage fees, measures for protecting and managing the cultural assets, and other matters shall be governed by the Ordinance on the Operation of the Namhansanseong World Heritage Centre (hereinafter referred to as “the Ordinance”).
Article 4 (Objects for Opening)
① The objects to be opened to the public shall be as follows:
- 1. Governing heritages: The Temporary Palace, Chimgwaejeong Arsenal, and Inhwagwan Guesthouse.
- 2. Military heritages: Sueojangdae Command Post, Yeonmugwan Pavilion, and the Four Gate Pavilions of Namhansanseong.
- 3. Landscape heritage: Jisudang Pavilion
② The details and scope of the opening of the cultural heritages pursuant to Clause ① shall be prescribed separately.
Article 5 (Restrictions on Opening, etc.)
① Notwithstanding the foregoing Article 3, Clause 1, the Head of the Center may restrict the opening of the cultural heritages to the public if necessary so as to prevent damage to the cultural heritages, to secure the safety of visitors, and to hold major events.
② In the event of a natural disaster such as earthquake, typhoon, torrential rainfall, heavy snow, or unusual weather phenomena such as a heat wave or fine dust, an event that may affect the health and safety of the visitors, or in the event of unavoidable reasons such as the repair and maintenance of a cultural heritage, the opening of all or a part of the site may be suspended for a certain period of time pursuant to the approval of the Head of the Center. However, in the event of urgent cases where there is insufficient time to obtain the approval of the Head of the Center in advance, prior measures must be taken and then reported to the Head of the Center.
③ In the event that the Head of the Center has to restrict or suspend the opening of the site in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing Clauses ① and ②, he/she shall post the reasons for and period of restricting or suspending the opening in a place where it is clearly visible to visitors.
Article 6 (Restrictions on Entry and Suspension from View, etc.)
① To preserve and manage the cultural heritages, the Head of the Center may take all necessary measures, such as restricting entry, storing potentially dangerous or unsafe items for safe-keeping, or suspending from view, for any of the following persons.
- 1. Any person in possession of a dangerous object such as a flammable substance or weapon (gun, gunpowder, sword, etc.).
2. Any person in possession of an alcoholic beverage, camping supplies (tent, mat, sun shelter, etc.).
3. Any person accompanied by a pet. (However, exceptions may be made for guide dogs accompanying persons with disabilities pursuant to Article 2 of the Act on the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, which enter the site for training.)
4. Any person in possession of such objects as sports and play equipment, musical instruments, loudspeakers, hiking sticks, etc. that may interfere with other visitors’ viewing and appreciation of the cultural heritages or the preservation and management thereof.
5. Any person(s) judged likely to interfere with other visitors’ viewing and appreciation of the cultural assets or the preservation and management thereof due to their consumption of alcohol, disorderly conduct, loud or wild speech and behavior, loud singing, inappropriate clothing, performance of shamanic practices or personal ancestral rites, involvement in religious gatherings, or any other type of inappropriate behavior.
6. Any person who fails to follow the visitors’ regulations without justifiable cause and receives a warning from the staff.
7. Any person who eats a packed lunch, etc. in a place other than the areas designated in accordance with Clause 4.
8. Any person who is infected with a legally designated infectious disease as prescribed in Article 2 of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, or any person who shows signs of infection, such as symptoms of an infectious disease, and hence may affect the health and safety of other visitors.
② The Head of the Center shall return the items stored pursuant to the foregoing Clause 1.
③ The entire cultural heritage site shall be a non-smoking area, and the Head of the Center may take necessary measures against smokers, such as ordering them to leave the site.
④ To maintain good order when viewing the heritage site and provide convenience to visitors, the Head of the Center may designate an area in which visitors can eat simple food, such as a packed lunch, according to the conditions of the relevant cultural heritage.
Article 7 (Access to Restricted Areas)
The Head of the Center may authorize entry to the restricted areas pursuant to Article 5, Clause 1 in any of the following cases.
- 1. When a person wishes to enter the restricted areas for the purpose of academic research or the repair and management of the cultural assets, etc.
- 2. When a person wishes to enter the restricted areas for the purpose of reporting
- 3. Other cases deemed necessary by the Head of the Center.