▲ Various gold and jade royal seals are on display at the special exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of the National Palace Museum of Korea, titled "RE:BORN, Conservation Science Linking Time," held on Dec. 2, 2025, at the museum in Jongno District, Seoul. (Yonhap)

 

SEOUL, Feb. 4 (Yonhap) -- An exhibition highlighting the Joseon Dynasty’s royal heritage and the significance of World Heritage will be held in Busan to coincide with the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting slated for July in the port city.

 

The National Palace Museum of Korea said Wednesday that it will present a special exhibition on World Heritage-listed Joseon royal assets in cooperation with the Busan Museum from June 30 to Aug. 30.

 

The two museums are scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding later in the day to jointly host the exhibition.

 

▲ A digitally restored portrait of King Taejo is on display at the special exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of the National Palace Museum of Korea, titled "RE:BORN, Conservation Science Linking Time," held on Dec. 2, 2025, at the museum in Jongno District, Seoul. (Yonhap)

 

A National Palace Museum official said the exhibition is intended to help ensure the successful hosting of the World Heritage Committee meeting — to be held in Korea for the first time — and to introduce the value of royal heritage to visitors from home and abroad.

 

The exhibition will focus primarily on documentary heritage in the museum’s collection that has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.

 

On display will be the "Annals of the Joseon Dynasty," which chronicle some 472 years of history from the reign of King Taejo (1392–1398) to that of King Cheoljong (1849–1863), as well as the "Uigwe," or royal protocols, which document important state ceremonies and rituals.

 

Royal seals and related documents used in state rites — known as "eobo" (royal seals) and "eochek" (royal certificates) — will also be highlighted.

 

The two museums plan to cooperate closely by jointly researching their collections and materials and carrying out related projects in connection with the special exhibition.

 

The World Heritage Committee is the most important decision-making body related to World Heritage, responsible for deliberating on inscriptions as well as the conservation and protection of World Heritage properties.

 

Korea will host the committee meeting for the first time, 38 years after joining the World Heritage Convention in 1988.

 

The meeting will be held in Busan from July 19 to 29, with Lee Byung-hyun, former ambassador and permanent delegate of Korea to UNESCO, serving as chair.

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