World Heritage Interpretation Centre led by Korea takes first step as organization affiliated with UNESCO

▲ This photo, provided by Jongno-gu, shows Jongmyo, a world heritage site. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, May 24 (Yonhap) -- The International Centre for the Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage Sites, (World Heritage Interpretation Centre) took the first step as an organization affiliated with UNESCO.

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced that it had signed an agreement with UNESCO on the 23rd to establish a World Heritage Centre at Heungbokjeon Hall in Gyeongbokgung Palace.

The World Heritage Interpretation Centre was established with the goal of raising awareness of World Heritages and to contribute to the sustainable development through the preservation and utilization of World Heritages.

The establishment was approved by the UNESCO General Assembly in 2019, and the establishment team was made in May 2020 by the Korean government. In Korea, there is a provision related to the establishment of the World Heritage Interpretation Centre in Special Act for the World Heritage. The government is to support the expenses necessary for the operation of the World Heritage Interpretation Centre, and local governments can also provide shared properties for free.

Through this agreement, the World Heritage Interpretation Centre obtained the official status of "Category 2 centres under the auspices of UNESCO". The Category 2 Centre is a specialized institution created by the cooperation of UNESCO and the government, and plays a role in contributing to UNESCO's cultural, scientific, and educational activities.

The World Heritage Interpretation Centre plans to conduct various activities to establish principles and guidelines for the interpretation and explanation of World Heritages, along with developing and building programs and an information system. Additionally, Sejong city is also planning to build a separate building.

"The Interpretation Centre is the first professional international organization that is mainly based on the interpretation and explanation of the World Heritage sites," said an official from the World Heritage Interpretation Centre. "We will carry out research activities to interpret and utilize for the heritages in conflict including 'Gunhamdo (Battleship Island') with Japan."

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Haemin Kim.)

(END)

(C) Yonhap News Agency. All Rights Reserved