Baekdu Mountain, a symbol of Korean identity, is at risk of being globally recognized solely by its Chinese name, “Changbai Mountain.”
The Chinese government has been promoting the “Changbai Mountain Cultural Theory,” claiming that the Baekdu Mountain region has been historically and culturally part of China since ancient times. This effort is a continuation of China’s Northeast Project, which seeks to incorporate Korean history into Chinese history.
China designated Baekdu Mountain as a national nature reserve in 1986 and included it in its list of “China’s Top 10 Famous Mountains” in 2003. Since then, it has actively promoted Baekdu Mountain as “Changbai Mountain” worldwide.
In 2020, China applied for Baekdu Mountain to be recognized as a UNESCO Global Geopark. This application will be reviewed at the UNESCO Executive Board meeting from March 13 to 27, 2024, where new Global Geopark designations will be discussed.
UNESCO established the Global Geopark program in 2004 to protect geologically significant sites. Currently, 195 geoparks in 48 countries hold this designation.
The 18 sites under review for designation this year were recommended for inclusion by the UNESCO Global Geopark Council in September 2023. Typically, sites recommended by the council receive final approval unless there are exceptional circumstances.
If Baekdu Mountain is designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark under the name “Changbai Mountain,” China will likely use this recognition to further assert its claim that Baekdu Mountain is exclusively Chinese territory.
More concerningly, China could use this designation to justify historical distortions, arguing that the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo and Balhae, which ruled the Baekdu Mountain region, were part of Chinese history. This would follow China’s precedent of inscribing Goguryeo historical sites as UNESCO World Heritage while simultaneously promoting the kingdom as a local Chinese regime.
Baekdu Mountain is divided between North Korea and China, with approximately three-quarters of the territory under Chinese control and one-quarter belonging to North Korea. The crater lake, Cheonji, is split according to the 1962 Sino-North Korean Border Treaty, with North Korea holding 54.5% and China controlling 45.5%. This means Baekdu Mountain is a shared natural heritage, not a site that China can unilaterally claim.
In response to China’s attempts to rebrand Baekdu Mountain as Changbai Mountain on the global stage, VANK (Voluntary Agency Network of Korea) is launching a worldwide campaign. The organization aims to prevent Baekdu Mountain from being internationally recognized under its Chinese name alone.
Baekdu Mountain, often referred to as the “sacred mountain of the Korean people,” holds immense historical and cultural significance for Korea, particularly due to its association with the ancient kingdoms of Goguryeo and Balhae. Ensuring that its Korean identity is not erased is a critical priority.
VANK is also raising concerns that UNESCO, an international organization, could inadvertently become a tool for China’s historical revisionism. To counter this, the group is actively working to communicate Korea’s concerns to UNESCO.
As part of its campaign, VANK is producing posters and launching global petitions. One of the posters includes the message:
“Is UNESCO a front for history distortion by China? Before ‘East Sea Waters’ and ‘Baekdu Mountain’ become ‘Sea of Japan’ and ‘Changbai Mountain,’ we need to let the world know the proper name of Baekdu Mountain!”
Additionally, VANK plans to submit a global petition urging UNESCO to ensure that any recognition of Baekdu Mountain includes historical explanations from the Korean perspective. The petition will call for UNESCO to remain vigilant against the potential misuse of its designation process for political purposes.
Through policy advocacy, VANK will also urge the Korean government to actively promote the correct name of Baekdu Mountain to the international community, preventing its identity from being overshadowed by China’s unilateral claims.