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A briefing session for the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. / Korea Heritage Service

The Korea Heritage Service held an information session to share preparation updates with the international community ahead of the upcoming UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting scheduled to take place in Busan in July.

The agency announced on Monday that it co-hosted the “Information Session for the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee” with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on June 8 (local time), presenting the committee’s operational plans to member states and participating organizations.

The session was attended by representatives from 196 States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, as well as key advisory bodies including the ICCROM, the IUCN, and the ICOMOS.

The meeting opened with remarks by Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Acting Assistant Director-General for Culture at UNESCO, followed by welcoming speeches from Lee Byung-hyun and Choi Bo-geun.

It continued with presentations by the Korean government and the World Heritage Centre on preparation status, followed by a question-and-answer session. The event was also livestreamed to accommodate participants in different time zones and regions.

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From left: Yeo Seong-hee, deputy head of the preparatory planning team for the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee; Choi Bo-geun, Vice Administrator of the Korea Heritage Service; Lee Byung-hyun, Chair of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee; and Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Acting Assistant Director-General for Culture at UNESCO, at an information session. / Korea Heritage Service

The Korea Heritage Service said at the meeting that it explained operational plans for the BEXCO convention center in Busan, including participant registration procedures, transportation and logistics support, and accommodation arrangements. It also introduced various cultural programs scheduled to be held during the committee session.

In particular, the agency outlined large-scale exhibitions and performances at the “Korea Pavilion” within the venue, as well as programs designed to introduce Korean cultural heritage sites, aiming to provide participants from around the world with opportunities to directly experience Korean culture.

Choi Bo-geun, Vice Administrator of the Korea Heritage Service, said, “Busan is a dynamic maritime city where tradition and innovation coexist, and a city of peace symbolizing Korea’s growth achieved with the support of the international community.”

He added, “We will do our utmost to ensure participants can directly experience Korea’s World Heritage and warm hospitality through this committee session.”

Meanwhile, the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee will be held in July at BEXCO in Busan. The Korea Heritage Service said it will continue to strengthen cooperation with the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and the city of Busan following the information session, and will regularly monitor preparations to ensure smooth operation of the main meeting and related events.

                                                                                                          Jeon Hye-won