Former UNESCO Ambassador Lee Byunghyun Appointed Chair of World Heritage Committee in Busan Next July

Served as Chair of the Executive Board for Three Years from 2017
First Time Hosted in Korea, International Conference with 3,000 Participants

Lee Byunghyun, former UNESCO Ambassador, elected as Chair of the Busan World Heritage Committee for next year Photo by Yonhap News

Lee Byunghyun, former Ambassador to UNESCO, will lead the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which will be held in Busan in July next year.

UNESCO headquarters in Paris held a special session of the 20th World Heritage Committee on the 25th (local time) and elected former Ambassador Lee as Chair.

He served as Ambassador to UNESCO from 2015 to 2019. During his term, he was Chair of the UNESCO Executive Board (2017-2019) and Chair of the 12th Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2017), earning a reputation for his expertise in UNESCO affairs. The government nominated him as a candidate for Chair, taking these qualifications into account.

The World Heritage Committee is an intergovernmental committee dedicated to the protection of cultural and natural heritage. Established under the "Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage" adopted in 1972, the committee decides on key issues related to the inscription, preservation, and protection of World Heritage sites. This will be the first time the meeting is held in Korea. Around 3,000 participants are expected, including delegations from 196 States Parties to the Convention, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

The World Heritage Committee Bureau consists of one Chair, five Vice-Chairs, and one Rapporteur. Typically, the Chair is selected from the host country, while the Vice-Chairs are elected by continent. The Bureau coordinates the committee's agenda and schedule and oversees the proceedings.

Heo Min, Administrator of the National Heritage Administration, who attended the special session, pledged, "We will do our utmost to ensure the successful hosting of the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee."