
Cambodia’s Angkor Wat heritage site is seen in this image provided by the Korea Heritage Agency. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 31 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s heritage authorities announced Friday that a section of the visitor facilities at Cambodia’s Angkor Wat heritage site has reopened following renovations using Korean technology.
South Korea has been working with Cambodia on the restoration and preservation of Angkor Wat since 2024, providing technical expertise and support to protect its cultural heritage.
As part of the cooperation project, new viewing stairs leading to the Bakan Tower within Angkor Wat have been installed, along with a walkway providing access to the southern pond, according to the Korea Heritage Service and its affiliate, the Korea Heritage Agency.
The southern pond is a popular vantage point offering a panoramic view of the temple complex. However, concerns had been raised that increasing visitor traffic was causing erosion of the sandy bottom, potentially threatening the site’s preservation.
“We have renovated the visitor facilities using Korean technology,” a Korea Heritage Agency official said. “This is expected to enhance both safety and convenience for visitors.”
Angkor Wat is widely regarded as an archaeological symbol of Cambodia. The Angkor region, which served as the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th centuries, is home to over 1,000 temples, including Angkor Wat, Bayon, Preah Khan and Ta Prohm.
In 1992, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in recognition of its cultural and artistic significance.
The Korea Heritage Agency plans to repair and renovate the Bakan platform of Angkor Wat by 2026 in collaboration with the APSARA National Authority, the Cambodian government agency responsible for Angkor’s preservation and management.
(Yonhap)