中國大運河是世界上開鑿最早，里程最長，工程最大的運河之一，它和萬里長城並稱為中國古代的兩項偉大工程，聞名於全世界。它不僅是一條南北水上大動脈，而且在中國歷史上的政治、經濟、軍事、文化等各方面，都產生了重大影響。特別是對隋朝的歷史命運有著巨大影響。當然，它的影響不僅局限在中國，甚至對韓半島上的三個國家的存亡及日本也有重大影響。大運河還把中國內地與海外世界聯繫起來，極大地促進了中外政治、文化交流和經濟貿易往來。唐代許多外國人聚集在運河沿岸城市，這些人中新羅人最多，他們以運河沿岸城市為中心，從事河運、海運及貿易業，不僅對新羅、唐朝、日本三國之間貿易往來發揮積極作用，而且積極與西方國家展開貿易往來，為東西海上貿易做出重大貢獻，堪稱世界貿易史上的壯舉！在現今社會，我們可以以中國大運河交流圈為媒介，共建韓中兩國“環黃海經濟文化圈”，促進韓中兩國共同發展！

The Chinese Great Canal is one of the earliest, longest and largest canals in the world. Together with the Great Wall, they are recognized as the greatest engineering in ancient China. Not only is the Great Canal an aquatic main artery; it had great impacts on politics, economy, military and culture in ancient China, especially in the Sui Dynasty. Naturally, the influence of the Great Canal spread out of China, affecting the survival of the three countries in the Korean Peninsula as well as Japan. The Great Canal connected inland China with the overseas. Consequently, it furthered the political, cultural and business exchanges. Many foreigners, most of which are Sillas, gathered in cities near the Great Canal to engage in river maritime transport and trade. The Great Canal played an important role not only between Silla, the Tang Dynasty and Japan; the actively expend the trade to the Western countries and greatly contributed to the east‐west maritime trade. This is recognized as a feat in the history of world trade. Today, we may see the Great Canal as a medium, which can promote the Yellow Sea Economy and Cultural Circle and finally accelerate common development between Korean and China.