A plan is being promoted to install a replica of ‘Noah’s Ark’ in Korea, which was created by a Dutch architect 10 years ago and attracted global attention.
On the 18th, the Christian organization ‘Korea Noah’s Ark Hosting Committee’ (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) announced its intention to donate Noah’s Ark, completed by Dutch architect Johan Hübers in 2012, to Korea, and that discussions with relevant authorities are in progress.
This structure is Hübers’s reproduction of Noah’s Ark from the Book of Genesis in the Bible. It is 125m long, 29m wide, and 26m high. The weight reaches 3000 tons.
The total area of the ark, which was designed as a seven-story structure including the underground space, is approximately 5,000 pyeong (16,528 m2). It was built to carry about 5,000 people. About $4.2 million (about 5.7 billion won) was invested over the seven years of production.
As recorded in the Bible, animal models such as giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, and zebras were also included. Production began in 2005 and was completed in 2012.
It will take about two and a half months to transport the ark, which is currently in the Netherlands, to Korea on a barge, and is expected to cost about 5 to 7 billion won, including transportation costs, repair costs, and installation costs. If all goes as scheduled, it is expected to arrive in Korea in the first half of next year.
A committee official said that Hübers has shown great interest in the division of the Korean Peninsula, including by visiting Korea’s Aegibong Peace Ecological Park, and expressed his intention to donate it to Korea in hopes of peace.
It is known that the committee is discussing with local governments such as Incheon and Gyeonggi-do, which have expressed interest in using the Ark as a theme and cultural park exhibition and experience center.
The committee plans to hold a meeting attended by Hübers on the 19th to explain the plan in detail.
Park Tae-geun,
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.