AI meets history at Gyeongju's landmark World Heritage Industry Expo
Summary
Gyeongju is hosting the 2026 World Heritage Industry Expo this week, opening Thursday as the city uses AI, extended reality and immersive media to reimagine cultural preservation. Marking its 10th anniversary, the event is the largest yet, with 133 companies, research institutions and organizations taking part. The program includes restoration tech, digital archives, consumer products and public installations, plus talks on generative AI and heritage. The expo runs daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission for pre-registered and on-site visitors.
Key Facts
- The expo is being held in Gyeongju, the former capital of the Silla Kingdom from 57 B.C. to 935 A.D. and a UNESCO-linked heritage city context in the article body.
- This year marks the event’s 10th anniversary, and organizers describe it as the largest edition to date.
- A total of 133 companies, research institutions and organizations are participating.
- On Friday at 2 p.m., Suwen Wang and Kyung Hee University professor Kim Sang-gyun will lead a session on how generative AI can create economic and creative possibilities in the heritage industry.
- On Saturday at 2 p.m., neuroscientist Jang Dong-sun and former professional baduk player Lee Se-dol will debate human agency, artistic value and the identity of cultural heritage in an AI-driven world.
Tourists take photos of yellow cosmos near Bunhwangsa Templeu in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Sunday. Yonhap
Ancient history meets cutting-edge innovation this week as Gyeongju, the former capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.–935 A.D.), transforms into a testing ground for the future of cultural preservation. The 2026 World Heritage Industry Expo opens its doors Thursday, offering a glimpse into how artificial intelligence, extended reality and immersive media can revitalize the nation’s heritage sector.
Marking its 10th anniversary, this year’s milestone event stands as the largest to date, uniting 133 companies, research institutions and organizations. The expansion reflects a broader national push to bridge historical conservation with high-tech industries, turning legacy into a forward-looking economic engine. Across the venue, dynamic exhibitions will span advanced restoration tech, digital archive tools, consumer products and interactive public installations.
The core focus of the 2026 program lies in the integration of AI and extended reality, tools increasingly used in historical reconstruction, digital storytelling and global outreach.
On Friday at 2 p.m., Suwen Wang, a specialist in digital storytelling and heritage tech, alongside Kyung Hee University professor Kim Sang-gyun, will lead a session exploring how generative AI can unlock new economic and creative possibilities within the industry. On Saturday at 2 p.m., neuroscientist Jang Dong-sun will join former professional baduk — also known as go — player Lee Se-dol to debate human agency, artistic value and the evolving identity of cultural heritage in an AI-driven world.
Adding a creative flare to the discourse, the program includes an AI-generated film showcase highlighting Gyeongju’s rich historical landscape, alongside a Hanok Culture Fair that celebrates classic Korean architecture under the overarching theme, "From heritage to industry, a decade of progress."
Running daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the expo offers free admission to all pre-registered and on-site visitors.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
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