On July 1, KOICA donated 11 pieces of equipment to the ANA, including 3D scanners and ground penetrating radar and portable x-ray equipment. KOICA Cambodia Office via social media
South Korea has donated a total of 91 pieces of equipment and materials to the APSARA National Authority (ANA) to date, to assist in cultural heritage preservation and repair in the Angkor region, according to the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The devices have been widely utilised at different conservation sites by the authority’s specialists, whose capacities have been greatly improved through technical assistance and the support of cutting-edge conservation equipment.
Cambodia and Korea have been collaborating on cultural heritage restoration, particularly on projects in the Angkor region, for nearly a decade since 2015. At that time, both parties signed an agreement on the repair of Preah Pithu Temple, according to a social media post by the KOICA Cambodia Office on July 2.
On July 1, the organisation handed over 11 donations to the ANA, including 3D scanners and ground penetrating radar and portable x-ray equipment, as well as data analysis software.
“Receiving these materials will greatly benefit conservation work and further research in the Angkor region,” KOICA deputy country director Song Youngjun stated at the event.
For almost 10 years, there have been many fruitful achievements, with the strong and close partnership between KOICA and the ANA emerging as the most important and outstanding accomplishment, he added.
Kim Sothin, deputy director-general of the ANA, stressed that the authority deeply appreciates the cooperation with KOICA. He said based on the strong partnership, they have witnessed many accomplishments, and noted that they are successfully restoring the Chorm Temple and the Terrace of Elephants.
“With the adoption of these technologies, the ANA will continue to contribute to the sustainable management of the Angkor site,” he added.
On the same day, KOICA also donated a laboratory to the ANA. It noted that the lab is the first in the Angkor area to be equipped with a variety of scientific instruments, enabling researchers to study, analyse, and extract architectural data, as well as to examine both old and new stone and metal from the temples in the Angkor resort area, according to the ANA.
