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| yna@yna.co.kr 2026-03-09 10:51:06
SEOUL, March 9 (Yonhap) -- A global festival celebrating world heritage will take place in the southeastern port city of Busan this July alongside the upcoming session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the head of Korea's heritage authority said.
"If previous events were mostly static and meeting-oriented, this year people will see a 'living festival' itself," said Huh Min, administrator of the Korea Heritage Service.
Speaking in a recent interview at the National Palace Museum of Korea in Seoul, Huh described the gathering as "a historic moment that goes beyond a simple international meeting to showcase Korea as a cultural powerhouse to the world."
The World Heritage Committee is an intergovernmental body that discusses the inscription, conservation and management of world heritage sites. It consists of representatives from 21 member states elected by vote at the World Heritage General Assembly and meets annually in June or July to decide major agenda items.
This year's session will open on July 19 and run through July 29 at BEXCO. It will mark the first time South Korea hosts the committee since joining the World Heritage Convention in 1988.
Huh stressed the significance of Korea serving as the committee's chair country and a key stakeholder leading the preservation and interpretation of world heritage.
"The experience and network we gain as chair will become powerful assets for achieving results in future world heritage nominations and interpretations, and for resolving conflicts smoothly," he said.
The Korea Heritage Service plans to promote the country both inside and outside the conference venue.
About 100 royal guards who perform at Gyeongbokgung will travel to Busan to stand guard around the venue, while a promotional pavilion called "K-Heritage House" will open to introduce Korean heritage.
In Gyeongju, a highlight event will demonstrate an experimental reconstruction of Tomb No. 44 at the Jjoksaem burial complex, believed to be the tomb of a Silla princess. A replica vessel of the Joseon-era diplomatic ship used by the Joseon Tongsinsa envoys to Japan will also be introduced in Busan.
Officials are also considering an exhibition bringing together all surviving archival copies of the "Annals of the Joseon Dynasty," a UNESCO Memory of the World record, preserved at four historical archives.
"During breaks in the meetings, participants can simply step outside and digitally experience Korea's world heritage, view K-culture exhibitions or enjoy Korean food," Huh said.
Prospects are also viewed positively for the second-phase expansion nomination of "Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats."
"Korea's tidal flats are globally important areas for biodiversity conservation," Huh said, noting that related procedures such as on-site inspections and responses to document requests are proceeding smoothly.
Huh declined to elaborate on whether North Korea will attend the committee meeting.
"Last year it had 'Mount Kumgang' inscribed on the World Heritage list, but it has no nomination agenda this year, making its participation uncertain," he said, adding that authorities are closely monitoring developments involving UNESCO and Pyongyang.
He also expressed hope that North Korea's participation could serve as a starting point for renewed inter-Korean exchanges through world heritage and for easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Huh also noted that the government is giving deep thought to resolving disputes over "conflict heritage" between Korea and Japan, such as Japan's Meiji Industrial Heritage sites and the Sado gold mine.
At last year's 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris, an unprecedented vote took place over the issue of the Hashima coal mine, also known as "Battleship Island," a site associated with wartime forced labor.
"While we will respond firmly to cases where conditions attached to inscription are not fulfilled, we also plan to explore joint Korea-Japan heritage initiatives to resolve conflicts," Huh said.
He voiced confidence that Korea will present "international standards" at this year's committee session.
"We aim to produce an international declaration reflecting philosophies on pressing issues such as the climate crisis and sustainable development, serving as a milestone for the next 50 years of the World Heritage Convention," he said.
"We want to create the most innovative and transformative World Heritage Committee yet. We will show such capability that future host countries might even feel burdened by it," he added with a laugh.
The Korea Heritage Service is also reviewing future World Heritage nominations.
Since listing Jongmyo Shrine, Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple, along with Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, in 1995, Korea now has 17 World Heritage properties — 15 cultural and two natural.
Next year, "Capital Fortifications of Hanyang," the defensive walls built to protect the Joseon capital, will seek inscription as the country's 18th World Heritage site.
Huh said that Korea's listings have so far been skewed toward cultural heritage.
"It is necessary to push for the inscription of more natural heritage and mixed heritage sites in the future," he said.
He noted that in the natural heritage category, the Upo Wetland, dinosaur fossil sites along the southern coast and the Seoraksan Natural Reserve are currently included on the tentative list, with additional candidates to be discovered later.
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