South Korean heritage chief questions effectiveness of dam floodgates for ancient petroglyphs

The Bangudae Petroglyphs, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Ulsan, South Korea, face a precarious future as rising waters from the Sayeon Dam repeatedly submerge the ancient rock carvings. The head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, Huh Min, voiced skepticism about the effectiveness of planned floodgates for the dam, suggesting they might become obsolete due to increasingly severe rainfall driven by climate change.

"I think these floodgates could become useless," Huh stated at a forum on heritage site management, highlighting the dilemma faced by the South Korean government. Residents in the Uljugun area advocate for the dam's removal, while Ulsan city residents depend on its water supply. The Sayeon Dam, built in 1965, lacks water level regulation and overflows naturally when full, submerging the petroglyphs located between 53-57 meters. These carvings have been underwater for an average of 151 days annually between 2005 and 2013, and despite efforts to maintain lower water levels, submersion incidents continue.

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I think these floodgates could become useless.

A plan to install three floodgates, each 7.3 meters high and 15 meters wide, aims to keep the Sayeon Dam's water level below 52 meters by 2030, at a cost of 80.9 billion won. While these gates are expected to reduce submersion times from weeks to potentially just one day, they will not entirely prevent the petroglyphs from being covered by water. The dam currently supplies about 40% of Ulsan's daily water needs, and its complete removal would complicate the city's water security, requiring increased reliance on water from the Nakdong River and incurring higher costs.

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Residents in the Uljugun area advocate for the dam's removal, while Ulsan city residents depend on its water supply. This is the dilemma of the South Korean government.