Busan is good

Heritage of Busan as the Wartime Capital Commemorative Exhibition Marks the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan

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Busan Museum of Contemporary History announced that it will hold the special thematic exchange exhibition Heritage of Busan as the Wartime Capital for 105 days, from today (June 25) through September 27, in the Special Exhibition Hall on the second floor of the museum to commemorate the hosting of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC) in Busan Metropolitan City.

The exhibition has been organized to introduce the value of the Heritage of Busan as the Wartime Capital, which was selected for the Cultural Heritage Administration's UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2025, to visitors from Korea and abroad while fostering broader public support for its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In particular, the exhibition examines Busan's historical experience from a World Heritage perspective, highlighting how the city maintained national functions as the wartime capital, provided refuge to displaced civilians, and overcame crisis through international assistance and cooperation despite the extreme circumstances of war.

The exhibition consists of three sections, presenting the historical significance of the 11 heritage sites through the themes of preserving national functions, refugee life, and international cooperation.

Section 1, The Last City of the Korean War, focuses on the administrative and political centers that sustained the functions of the nation during the war. Through Gyeongmudae, the presidential residence; the Provisional Central Government Complex, where central government administration continued; and the Central Meteorological Observatory, which provided essential weather information to support national operations, visitors can explore how the national system continued to function throughout the conflict.

Section 2, A City That Survived Amid the Ruins, explores the lives of refugees who poured into Busan from across the country and the city's process of adaptation. Through the Uam-dong Cattle Shed Refugee Settlement, where former cattle sheds were converted into refugee housing; the Ami-dong Tombstone Culture Village, built on a former cemetery; the Bokbyeongsan Reservoir, which supplied drinking water; and Yeongdo Bridge, a place marked by countless wartime separations, the exhibition conveys the daily lives, hardships, and resilience of displaced people.

Section 3, A City Protected by the World, examines the sites of international cooperation and humanitarian action. Through Busan Port Pier 1, the gateway for relief supplies; the U.S. Embassy and United States Information Service, which served as centers of diplomacy and international exchange; Hialeah Compound, a base for military and humanitarian operations; and the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea, dedicated to honoring UN veterans, the exhibition highlights the values of international solidarity and peace.

Major exhibits include artifacts related to the Heritage of Busan as the Wartime Capital, such as the Nakdong River Front Situation Map, the wartime attendance register of the Central Meteorological Observatory, newspapers used as wallpaper in tombstone houses, and letters written by deployed U.S. soldiers, along with scale models of all 11 heritage sites.

Featured exhibits include the Nakdong River Front Situation Map documenting the critical conditions of the Korean War; the wartime attendance register of the Central Meteorological Observatory, recording government operations during the conflict; newspapers used as wallpaper in tombstone houses, illustrating the lives of refugees; and letters written by deployed U.S. soldiers, conveying the humanitarian spirit and personal experiences of those who served far from home.

A special highlight of the exhibition is the collection of meticulously crafted scale models of all 11 Heritage of Busan as the Wartime Capital sites, many of which cannot be brought into an exhibition space. By presenting these heritage sites together in one venue, visitors can compare and appreciate their individual characteristics while gaining a deeper understanding of how they collectively form an interconnected heritage system.

The exhibition will also be accompanied by a variety of related programs that provide visitors with a deeper understanding of Heritage of Busan as the Wartime Capital.

In July, the museum will host Curator Talks, during which the curator responsible for planning the exhibition will personally explain its themes and contents. The program will be offered twice during the exhibition period.

An educational program titled Shining Museum: From the City of Refuge to the City of Heritage will also be offered. Participants will learn about Busan as the wartime capital while enjoying quiz activities and hands-on experiences such as creating decorative mood lamps.

All programs are free of charge and open to everyone on a first-come, first-served basis through advance registration. More information about the exhibition and related programs is available on the Busan Museum of Contemporary History website at https://busan.go.kr/mmch or by contacting the museum's Exhibition Team via email or telephone.

Kim Gi-yong, Director of Busan Museum of Contemporary History, said, "The Heritage of Busan as the Wartime Capital symbolizes the noble values of solidarity, peace, and human resilience that flourished even in the depths of despair. It is a shared heritage for all humanity. We hope this exhibition will help promote its value more widely and provide an opportunity to reflect on the enduring significance of peace and humanitarianism that the world must continue to remember."