Busan Becomes the First Korean City to Host the UNESCO World Heritage Committee

Busan Confirmed as Host City for the 48th World Heritage Committee in 2026 in Paris
"Heritage of the Wartime Capital, Shared Values of Cultural Diversity and Peace"

Busan has been selected as the first city in South Korea to host the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Busan will be the first Korean city to host the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC) in 2026.

The Busan Metropolitan Government (Mayor Park Hyungjoon) announced on the 16th that Busan was officially confirmed as the next host city during the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, on the 15th (local time).

The World Heritage Committee is the highest decision-making body under UNESCO, responsible for the inscription, preservation, and protection of World Heritage, in accordance with the World Heritage Convention adopted in 1972. Although Korea has served as a committee member four times since joining the convention in 1988, this is the first time the country will host the committee meeting.

Busan was selected as the domestic candidate city on June 30 and has now been officially chosen. Since Korea's hosting was confirmed at the UNESCO plenary session, Busan's symbolic status as the first Korean host city has been further solidified.

During the meeting, following the announcement of the next host city, Lee Joonseung, Deputy Mayor for Administrative Affairs, delivered a congratulatory speech as Busan's representative, followed by the screening of a promotional video. Deputy Mayor Lee emphasized, "Busan is a city that has put UNESCO's values into practice and has preserved culture and humanity even amid the memories of war and refuge. We are fully prepared to fulfill our mission as the host city."

The video featured the heritage of Busan as the wartime capital, domestic World Heritage sites, international conference infrastructure such as BEXCO and Nurimaru APEC House, and major tourist attractions in Busan.

To ensure the successful hosting of the event, Busan plans to work closely with the National Heritage Administration, Busan Tourism Organization, BEXCO, Busan Cultural Foundation, and Busan Institute of Urban Affairs. The city intends to present unique programs that only Busan can offer to the delegations and participants from 196 member states.

Park Hyungjoon, Mayor of Busan, stated, "Hosting the World Heritage Committee is a historic achievement that elevates the international status of both Korea and Busan. We will thoroughly prepare to promote the value of World Heritage and to make this event a venue for realizing the shared values of humanity?cultural diversity, peace, and sustainability."