In October 2012, the Hoeamsaji Museum opened. With the archaeological excavations results upto 2015, the museum initiated its own in-house research.

In October 2016, the Comprehensive Maintenance Project for Hoeamsaji was completed in almost 20 yeas. Subsequently, a master plan to push for the World Heritage inscription of Hoeamsaji was established, signaling the official beginning of the nomination process. Close consultations with related organizations and heritage experts followed.

Pushing for World Heritage Inscription

2015

• - Consultation with World Heritage experts and in-house museum research conducted

2016

• - Plan set up to promote the inscription of the Hoeamsaji in Yangju on the UNESCO World Heritage List

2017

• 04 – 12 Foundational research conducted for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List
• 05 Spring Academic Conference of the Korean Association of Architectural History held: “Hoeamsa Temple Site and Architecture”

2018

• 06 Academic Conference held: “Hoeamsa Temple Site from a New Perspective”

2019

• 01 – 07 Advanced research conducted for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List
• 06 International Academic Symposium held: “Comparative Study of East Asian Seon Buddhist Monasteries”

2020

• 2020 12 – 2021 06 Supplementary research conducted to strengthen the Outstanding Universal Value for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

2021

• 11 Submission of the application for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List
• 12 On-site inspection by experts from the Cultural Heritage Administration (currently the Korea Heritage Service)

2022

• 01 Deliberation and approval by the Cultural Heritage Committee of the Cultural Heritage Administration (currently the National Heritage Committee of the KHS): selection for the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List
• 07 Inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List
• 12 Memorandum of Understanding signed between Gyeonggi Provincial Government and Yangju City
• 2022 12 – 2023 10 Comparative study of domestic heritage sites conducted

2023

• 01 Establishment of the World Heritage Promotion TF Team (currently the World Heritage Promotion Team)
• 04 – 12 Conservation and management database set up
• 2023 08 – 2024 07 Comparative study of overseas heritage sites conducted
• 09 Opening of a World Heritage Promotion Hall in collaboration with K-water

2024

• 02 – 10 Advanced research conducted to establish the World Heritage value of the site
• 03 Establishment of a Local Residents’ Consultative Council
• 04 – 12 Comprehensive plan for conservation, management, and utilization conducted
• 06 International Academic Conference held: “East Asian Seon Buddhist Monasteries and the Yangju Hoeamsa Temple Site”
• 08 – 09 14th Archaeological Excavation of the Hoeamsaji conducted
• 09 Opening of a World Heritage Promotion Hall in collaboration with the 5th Armored Brigade
• 12 Establishment of the World Heritage Promotion Committee for the Hoeamsaji in Yangju

2025

• 02 Consultation with the Korea Heritage Service and Gyeonggi Provincial Government, and on-site inspection by Korea Heritage Service experts
• 03 Selected for the World Heritage Priority List