Cookie Run teams up to promote UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in Busan

▲ Officials look at exhibits during a media preview of the special exhibition "Cookie Run: In Search of Lost National Heritage," held to mark the 2nd National Heritage Day, at Dondeokjeon Hall of Deoksugung Palace in Seoul on Dec. 8, 2025. (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- The popular game franchise "Cookie Run" will be used to help promote the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, set to take place in the southeastern port city of Busan in July.

The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) said Tuesday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with game developer Devsisters, known for the "Cookie Run" series, to cooperate on the utilization and promotion of national heritage.

"Cookie Run" is a globally popular game franchise with more than 300 million users worldwide. The Korea Heritage Service and Devsisters have been collaborating since 2023 to promote natural heritage, most recently presenting the exhibition "Cookie Run: In Search of Lost National Heritage."

▲ Hur Min (R), administrator of the Korea Heritage Service, and Cho Gil-hyun, CEO of Devsisters, look at the "Cookie Run Imagination Painting" at the exhibition "Cookie Run: In Search of Lost National Heritage" at Dondeokjeon Hall of Deoksugung Palace in Seoul on Feb. 2, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The special exhibition, which opened on Dec. 9 last year, has attracted more than 100,000 visitors to date.

Under the agreement, the two sides plan to promote the World Heritage Committee session — which South Korea is hosting for the first time — and its significance by leveraging the "Cookie Run" intellectual property (IP).

They will produce a media art video featuring South Korea’s 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites and introduce a "K-Heritage Run" theme incorporating national heritage elements into the "Cookie Run" game.

Online and offline promotional activities are set to begin in earnest in June. In addition, the exhibition "Cookie Run: In Search of Lost National Heritage," currently being held at Deoksugung Palace, will be extended by one month through April 5.

▲ Hur Min (L), administrator of the Korea Heritage Service, and Cho Gil-hyun, CEO of Devsisters, pose for a photo after signing a memorandum of understanding on Feb. 2, 2026. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

A restored Great Seal of the Korean Empire, recreated for the first time in South Korea with support from Devsisters, will be donated to Deoksugung Palace after the exhibition.

A Korea Heritage Service official said the initiative aims to make the value of national heritage more accessible and engaging, while helping ensure that the significance and beauty of K-heritage gain global recognition in the future.

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