Overview
- The 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee will meet at Bexco in Busan from July 19 to 29, marking the first time South Korea has hosted the committee since joining the convention in 1988.
- President Lee held a preparatory briefing on May 27 that called for a ‘one-team’ approach and meticulous plans for transport, accommodation and public safety for delegations from about 196 countries.
- The Korea Heritage Service will operate a 13,254‑square‑metre K‑Heritage House at Bexco with 42 exhibitions, immersive digital content and performances by 21 state‑recognized intangible‑heritage groups.
- The committee will consider Korea’s Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats Phase 2 nomination, and the KHS is preparing a preliminary assessment for 11 Korean War–related sites in Busan that Korea may nominate to UNESCO.
- Officials say a smooth event could boost Busan tourism and the regional economy while raising Korea’s standing in cultural diplomacy, and they warn that logistical failures could hurt national prestige and slow domestic nominations.