UNESCO World Heritage Committee to Be Held in Busan Next July... First Time in South Korea (Comprehensive)

38 Years After Joining the Convention in 1988
National Heritage Administrator Pledges "Successful Operation"
BEXCO Likely as Venue... Chairperson to Be Elected Soon

The largest international event in the field of cultural heritage will be held in Busan next summer.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee selected South Korea as the host country for the 48th World Heritage Committee in 2026 at a meeting held on the 15th (local time) at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.
[Photo by National Heritage Administration]

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee selected South Korea as the host country for the 48th World Heritage Committee in 2026 at a meeting held on the 15th (local time) at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France. As a result, the next meeting will be held in Busan, which had previously been chosen as the candidate city through a bidding process.

This will be the first time that South Korea hosts the World Heritage Committee. Since its inception in Paris, France in 1977, the event has been held in Asia in Phuket, Thailand (1994); Kyoto, Japan (1998); Suzhou, China (2004); Fuzhou, China (2021, held virtually); Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Cambodia (2013); and New Delhi, India (2024).

South Korea will host the meeting for the first time in the 38 years since joining the convention in 1988. Only the 21 member states of the committee are eligible to host. South Korea was elected as a committee member for the fourth time in November 2023 and will serve until 2027.

Choi Eungchun, Administrator of the National Heritage Administration, expressed his feelings in his acceptance speech, saying, "It is a great honor to host the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan, Republic of Korea." He also pledged, "We will reaffirm our responsibility for the heritage shared by all humanity and make every preparation to ensure the successful operation of the World Heritage Committee."

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee selected South Korea as the host country for the 48th World Heritage Committee in 2026 at a meeting held on the 15th (local time) at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.
[Photo by National Heritage Administration]

The World Heritage Committee is an international conference that discusses UNESCO World Heritage sites, which must be protected and remembered by the entire world. It inscribes sites recognized as having Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) that must be preserved for all humanity, and discusses plans for their preservation and protection. The committee also selects sites in danger and determines major policies related to heritage.

The General Assembly is attended by delegations from 196 States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, the Director-General of UNESCO, academic experts, and representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), totaling around 3,000 participants. They also attend various side events to share and discuss trends and the current state of conservation and management of World Heritage sites.

For the host city, it is an opportunity to showcase its role within the framework of the World Heritage Convention and its cultural capabilities to the world. The National Heritage Administration has consistently contributed to the UNESCO World Heritage Fund and strengthened practical support for heritage protection in order to secure the hosting rights.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee selected South Korea as the host country for the 48th World Heritage Committee in 2026 at a meeting held on the 15th (local time) at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.
[Photo by National Heritage Administration]

The National Heritage Administration and the Busan Metropolitan Government are considering holding the meeting from July 19 to 29 next year. BEXCO is the leading candidate for the venue. However, since there are various variables such as the summer rainy season, the final schedule will be determined after further discussion.

The Busan Metropolitan Government is also considering special programs for participants, such as beach yoga sessions, temple experiences, and extended opening hours for museums and art galleries. The city expects significant economic revitalization effects from the resulting consumption activities and other related impacts.

The chairperson who will lead next year’s committee has not yet been determined. According to the "Rules of Procedure of the World Heritage Committee," the chairperson presides over discussions and grants the right to speak, overseeing the proceedings of the meeting. Typically, an expert in the field of culture is appointed to this role.

The National Heritage Administration plans to elect a chairperson and form the chairperson’s panel as soon as possible. An official stated, "We will make every effort, together with relevant ministries, the Busan Metropolitan Government, and experts, to ensure a successful event."

Meanwhile, the term of Choi, who took office in May 2022, will end at midnight on the 16th. Heo Min, a paleontologist and professor at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Chonnam National University, has been nominated as the new administrator.