Cultural Heritage Administration Launches Full-Scale Implementation of 'World Heritage Comprehensive Plan'

Mid- to Long-Term Directions and Concrete Action Plans for World Heritage Policy
"Establishing 'Implementation Plans for Each World Heritage Site' Within Local Government Jurisdictions as a Reference"

On the 11th, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced that it will establish and implement a "Comprehensive Plan for the Preservation, Management, and Utilization of World Heritage" by 2026 to systematically protect World Heritage sites. This is the first mid- to long-term plan formulated since the enforcement of the "Special Act on the Preservation, Management, and Utilization of World Heritage (World Heritage Act)." The plan will present the mid- to long-term direction and specific action plans for World Heritage policies. The basic framework has been roughly drawn. Under the goal of "Passing on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of World Heritage intact to future generations," four strategic tasks and sixteen core tasks have been set.

The strategic tasks are divided into ▲ Establishing a sustainable preservation system for World Heritage ▲ Strengthening comprehensive and systematic management capabilities ▲ Utilizing Outstanding Universal Value and cultural resource development ▲ Enhancing international cooperation in the field of World Heritage. To establish a sustainable preservation system for World Heritage, the Cultural Heritage Administration plans to diversify the tentative list of World Heritage sites to expand inscriptions and strengthen related financial support. Heritage Impact Assessments will also be introduced. This is a tool to evaluate the impact of various threats on heritage sites.

The core tasks for strengthening comprehensive and systematic management capabilities include establishing a regular reporting and inspection system for the continuous management of World Heritage, building and operating an information system capable of integrated management and utilization of related information, and raising awareness among stakeholders through strengthening the domestic World Heritage network. To utilize the Outstanding Universal Value and develop cultural resources, a comprehensive promotional strategy that fully conveys the OUV will be established, and user-centered World Heritage utilization content free from spatial and temporal constraints will be produced and distributed. Furthermore, the plan aims to promote joint inscription of World Heritage sites between the North and South of Korea, effectively manage and respond to historical conflicts related to World Heritage, and strengthen international cooperation capabilities in the field of World Heritage.

An official from the Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "This comprehensive plan is also significant as it serves as a reference for local governments to prepare 'implementation plans for each World Heritage site' within their jurisdictions." They added, "Going forward, we will promote each task accordingly to preserve South Korea's World Heritage sites intact and widely publicize their excellent value as a shared asset of humanity to the world."