The ceremony saw the project formally handed over by Mr. Lee Gwiyoung, President of the Korea Heritage Agency, and received by Ms. Tedavan Keophilavanh, Head of the Champasak Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism. In attendance were Ms. Dalany Phommavongsa, Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism, representatives from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Vientiane, as well as project coordinators from central, provincial, and district levels, and technical officials.

In her address, Ms. Tedavan Keophilavanh stated that the Nang Sida Temple has significant historical and cultural values. Built in the 10th century and abandoned for several hundreds of years, the Vat Phou complex and associated Champassak Cultural Landscape were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. In 2013, the Korean Heritage Agency expressed interest in conserving and restoring the ancient Temple, providing grant aid for its restoration. The collaborative project has been implemented from 2013 until 2025.

Ms. Tedavan highlighted the close attention and consistent on-site monitoring and support from the leaders and experts of the Korean Heritage Agency. This ensured the field operations progressed smoothly and effectively. The field implementation benefited from excellent cooperation between the Korean side and Lao government organizations, including regular joint consultations on each phase of the implementation plan to ensure unified action. Many aspects of the past work have been successfully completed.

On this occasion, Ms. Dalany Phommavongsa, representing the Lao government, expressed gratitude for the successful contribution and assistance from the Republic of Korea in the restoration of the Nang Sida Temple, which stands as a key cooperation project between Laos and Korea.

KPL