Operated as an "Inclusive Conference"
Pursuing Phase 2 Inscription of Korean Tidal Flats
A budget of 17.9 billion won will be allocated to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which will be held in Busan in July next year.
On December 10, the Cultural Heritage Administration reported its "Plan for Hosting the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee" at the National Policy Coordination Meeting presided over by Prime Minister Kim Minseok. A dedicated preparatory planning team of ten members has already been formed with personnel dispatched from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Busan Metropolitan City. A pan-government preparatory committee chaired by the head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, along with local governments and an expert advisory group, are also working together.
This committee marks the first time in 38 years since Korea joined the World Heritage Convention that the country will host this international event. As the largest event in the field of world heritage, it is expected to bring about 3,000 cultural heritage experts and other participants from around the world to Busan.
The Cultural Heritage Administration will operate the event as an "inclusive conference," supporting the participation of African countries, small island developing states, and least developed countries, and providing opportunities for capacity building.
Huh Min, Director of the Cultural Heritage Administration (right), Kaled El Enany, newly appointed UNESCO Secretary-General (center), and Lee Byunghyun, Chair of the 48th World Heritage Committee, pose for a commemorative photo after the meeting.
During the committee period, a special media art exhibition introducing Korea's seventeen UNESCO World Heritage sites will be held, along with the Gyeongbokgung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony, performances and demonstrations of intangible heritage, and international seminars. There will also be a policy promotion center and a traditional cultural goods shop set up separately. Special side events such as the World Heritage Festival, the National Heritage Visit Campaign, and the arrival ceremony of the Joseon Tongsinsa Ship will also take place.
As the chair country, Korea will pursue the adoption of an "International Declaration" that conveys a message of reconciliation and cooperation among nations. The committee will analyze the current status of World Heritage listings both domestically and internationally to identify neglected or unexplored areas, and will prepare a "mid- to long-term implementation plan for World Heritage inscription" targeting the post-2030 era. In addition, every effort will be made to expand the UNESCO Natural Heritage inscription for the "Korean Tidal Flats Phase 2."
Huh Min, Director of the Cultural Heritage Administration, stated, "We will host the committee through close pan-governmental cooperation."
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