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Floor plan of the main exhibition halls. / Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service

World Heritage Committee session in Busan to double as 'National Heritage Festival'

The 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Busan this July, is set to expand beyond a standard international conference to become a global cultural festival celebrating national heritage.

The Korea Heritage Service announced on July 7 that during the committee session—which will run from July 19 to 29 at BEXCO in Busan—it will host a wide array of side events, including the "K-Heritage House" exhibition pavillion, performances, displays, hands-on experiences, and tour programs.

At the heart of the festivities, BEXCO’s Exhibition Center 1 will house 45 exhibition and interactive booths featuring participation from 35 organizations. The K-Heritage House will anchor its displays around the "Republic of Korea and UNESCO" theme pavilion, introducing the outstanding universal value of 17 domestic World Heritage sites—such as Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, Namhansanseong Fortress, and Sansa (Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea)—as well as sites currently on the Tentative List.

The K-Heritage Promotional Pavilion will utilize media art and immersive content to let visitors experience national heritage sites and World Heritage tour routes from across the country. Additionally, the "Heritage: Timeless Time" exhibition hall will present the beauty of Korean cultural heritage through 3D renderings displayed on a massive, 9-meter-tall media pole. Other features include a special documentary heritage exhibition by the National Archives of Korea, a promotional booth for "Yeongsanjae" (a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity), and the Host City Busan Pavilion showcasing local cultural landmarks.

Food and shopping experiences will also be available. Various tasting and experiential zones will be set up, including K-Seafood by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, K-Food by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and K-Traditional Market by the Ministry of Startups and SMEs. A "K-Heritage Store" selling traditional cultural merchandise will operate throughout the event.

The festivities will ripple out across the entire city of Busan. The Busan Cinema Center will host the "2026 Busan Travel Film Festival: Capturing World Heritage on Cinema" from July 18 to 19, focusing on World Heritage sites featured in movies. From July 16 to 22, the Shinsegae Department Store Centum City branch will hold the "Pop-up Hanbok Store Busan." Furthermore, the Busan Museum, in collaboration with the National Palace Museum of Korea, will run a special exhibition titled "The Records and Culture of Joseon: Handed Down for Ten Thousand Generations" through August 30, highlighting the documentary culture of the Joseon Dynasty.

Rich lineups of traditional performing arts are also scheduled. At BEXCO, the "Royal Promenade"—a reenactment of the Gyeongbokgung Palace Royal Guard Changing Ceremony and royal processions—will take place twice daily from July 20 to 29. Visitors can also catch a series of diverse stage performances, including the multidisciplinary intangible heritage show "Sanhwabi: HEXAGRAM 22" (July 23–24), the traditional performing arts festival "Let's Go See a GOOD Show: Busan" (July 26), Miryang intangible heritage performances, and a reenactment of the Joseon Tongsinsa (goodwill missions to Japan) procession.

Interactive programs have been crafted for both the general public and international delegates. The Busan Metropolitan Government will host the "2026 Heritage Night: Busan, the Wartime Capital" from July 24 to 25, offering guided tours of historical sites like Yeongdodaegyo Bridge. Official UNESCO delegates will be invited to participate in specialized field trips to Tongdosa Temple and the Bangudae Petroglyphs, along with exclusive programs like the "From Records to Heritage" tour featuring a viewing of the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, a royal cosmetics workshop, a temple food gala dinner, and Seon (Zen) meditation sessions.

"We will cooperate closely with relevant organizations to ensure that the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session transcends a diplomatic conference and blossoms into a world-class cultural festival enjoyed by domestic and international visitors alike," the Korea Heritage Service stated.

                                                                                                          Jeon Hye-won