Seoul, Nov 5 (IANS): South Korean authorities have called for a budget increase from the central government for its project to register the Pungnap Earthen Fortress in Songpa-gu, eastern Seoul, on the Unesco World Heritage list.
In order to relocate and offer compensation to residents at the site of the early-Baekje royal castle by 2020, the annual state budget of 35 billion won ($31 million) should be increased to at least 70 billion won, the Seoul Metropolitan City authorities said on Wednesday.
Seoul City has been moving to relocate and compensate the residents from inside the fortress site, which has become a residential area despite being designated as a historic site in 1963, the Korea Herald reported.
Due to poor preservation of the site and compensation delays, debate persists in the region over the city’s move to register it with Unesco.