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Citizens Take the Lead in Promoting World Heritage Inscription as the “Busan Wartime Capital Global Supporters” Launch Full-Scale Activities

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that it has established the “Busan Wartime Capital Global Supporters” to promote the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC) session and to inform domestic and international audiences about the historical and cultural value of the Busan Wartime Capital Heritage as well as the significance of its World Heritage inscription initiative. The group will begin full-scale promotional activities this month.

The inauguration ceremony for the “Busan Wartime Capital Global Supporters,” held at City Hall on June 20, featured the presentation of appointment certificates, a commemorative photo session, a lecture on the Busan Wartime Capital Heritage, an overview of supporter activities, and a question-and-answer session. In particular, a lecture by Professor Kang Dong-jin of Kyungsung University enhanced participants’ understanding of the heritage’s value and the importance of its preservation.

The “Busan Wartime Capital Global Supporters” consists of 25 citizens, including university students and office workers from various age groups. Participants will also be given opportunities to take part in events associated with the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session, which will be held at BEXCO from July 13 to July 29. The program is scheduled to operate continuously for two years, from June 2026 through 2027.

In particular, during 2026, the city plans to produce promotional content in connection with the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in July, including advance publicity materials and reviews of on-site visits. In August, additional content will be created to highlight the historical significance and place-based value of the Busan Wartime Capital Heritage.

A total of 25 pieces of advance promotional content for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session will be produced and distributed between June 20 and July 11, while another 25 pieces of content featuring participants’ experiences and reviews of the event will be produced and promoted during the session period from July 12 to July 29.

In addition, throughout August, 25 pieces of content will be produced and intensively promoted to introduce the Busan Wartime Capital Heritage and explain the significance of the World Heritage inscription initiative.

In 2026, the program will focus on social media promotion through short-form videos (Reels), card news content, and other digital formats. In 2027, the city plans to strengthen both online and offline promotional activities, including relay campaigns.

Busan Metropolitan City considers this project particularly meaningful because it enables citizens to interpret and share their region’s history themselves through a participatory form of public outreach. The city therefore plans to continue operating the program on an ongoing basis.

Through the supporters’ activities, the Busan Wartime Capital Heritage is expected to become recognized as an urban asset remembered and appreciated in contemporary life beyond a specific place or historical period. This is also expected to broaden public support for the World Heritage inscription initiative and further enhance awareness of Busan’s identity as a historic city both domestically and internationally.

Cho Yu-jang, Director General of the Culture Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “The value of the Busan Wartime Capital Heritage can be shared more widely through citizens’ understanding and participation. We hope that the Global Supporters will serve as a leading force in citizen-driven promotion, delivering the historical significance of the Busan Wartime Capital and the importance of its World Heritage inscription in an accessible and engaging way to people both in Korea and around the world.”