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Korea to highlight K-heritage at 2026 UNESCO committee session
Huh Min, Korea Heritage Service administrator, speaks during a briefing on preparations for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in Busan, slated for July 2026, at Government Complex Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
By Kim Se-jeong
The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) pledged to use next year’s UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC) session in Busan to spotlight the richness of Korea’s cultural and natural heritage.
The 48th WHC session is scheduled from July 19-29, marking the first time Korea will host the meeting since joining the committee in 1988. The WHC convenes annually to review the state of existing World Heritage sites and decide on new inscriptions. Former Korean ambassador to UNESCO Lee Byong-hyun will chair next year’s gathering.
“The 48th session will be an important opportunity to showcase Korean heritage to international visitors,” KHS Administrator Huh Min said during a press conference at Government Complex Seoul on Wednesday. “We plan to present a wide range of K-heritage elements for participants to experience.”
Around 3,000 visitors are expected to travel to Korea for the 11-day event.
UNESCO World Heritage Committee's 47th session takes place at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, July 16. Yonhap
According to Huh, KHS is preparing a media art exhibition highlighting Korea’s 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, along with reenactments of the royal palace changing-of-the-guard ceremony, intangible cultural heritage performances and a series of academic seminars. A heritage-related merchandise store will also open for attendees seeking cultural souvenirs. KHS secured a 17.9 billion won ($12.2 million) budget for the event.
During the Busan session, WHC members are expected to examine global heritage site candidates, including Kazakhstan’s Fergana-Syrdarya Silk Roads Corridor, Denmark’s bony fish fossil sites in the Western Limfjord area and the Asuka-Fujiwara archaeological sites of Japan’s ancient capitals.
Korea will seek to expand the inscription of its “getbol,” or tidal flats, recognized as a World Heritage site in 2022. The original listing includes Seocheon, Gochang, Shinan and Boseong-Suncheon, and the Korean government now hopes to add the Muan, Goheung and Yeosu tidal flats in the second phase, which it says demonstrate outstanding ecological value.
Railway structure remnants are seen at Busan North Port in Busan in this undated photo. The Busan city government announced Dec. 9 that an excavation uncovered railroad ties and a platform believed to have been built by Japan more than a century ago during the colonial period. Courtesy of Busan Metropolitan Government
Busan’s legacy revisited
Huh also highlighted the host city’s historical significance. Sites related to refugees of the 1950-53 Korean War are already among the government’s tentative World Heritage nominations.
Busan’s contributions to rail transportation are another potential future candidate, Huh added.
“Recent excavations confirm that Busan played a key role in Korea’s railroad culture and formed connections with other major cities around the world,” he said.
On Tuesday, the Busan city government announced the discovery of railway structures — including railroad ties and a platform believed to have been constructed by Japan more than a century ago, during the colonial period — uncovered in an excavation at Busan North Port.
Huh emphasized the significance of these finds, noting, “We see great potential in this heritage. The port railway legacy connects Korea, Japan and even the United Kingdom, making cross-border cooperation essential. We are conducting studies to assess its suitability for UNESCO recognition, with an emphasis on international collaboration.”
He added that multinational cooperation can help ease regional tensions.
“For heritage sites that are sources of tension, we plan to respond actively, while also adopting a two-track approach for those requiring multinational cooperation.”
According to Huh, KHS is working with the foreign ministry to address Japan’s Sado mine site nomination at the committee session, along with other contentious sites, to foster dialogue and resolution.
Sado Island Gold Mines, granted World Heritage status in July 2024, was flagged by UNESCO’s advisory body, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, which urged Japan to include information on the forced labor of Koreans during Japan’s colonial rule. However, Japan has yet to comply, leading to disputes with Korea.
As for North Korea’s potential participation, Huh said an invitation had already been extended, but there has been no progress. “However, we have received assurances from UNESCO headquarters that it will assist us in encouraging North Korean representatives to attend,” he added.
Huh visited Paris in November to meet with the organization’s new director-general, Khaled El-Enany, to discuss next year’s event.