The 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee opened in Busan on July 19. It is the first time South Korea has hosted the meeting since joining the convention in 1988, drawing around 3,000 participants.
The opening ceremony at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center was attended by President Lee Jae Myung, who stressed that world heritage unites humanity across borders and serves as a foundation for peace and cooperation. "The world can foster mutual respect for each other's history and strengthen trust and solidarity," Lee said.
UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany highlighted South Korea's 17 inscribed sites and said the committee would work to "revitalize the world through the living power of culture." K-pop star G-Dragon, the session's honorary ambassador, noted that art can inspire action to protect sites at risk from war and climate change.
The committee, chaired by Lee Byong-hyun, will review 33 proposals from July 20 to 29, including an extension of the Getbol Korean Tidal Flats and a draft decision on Japan's Sado mine site.
