Busan and the Korea Heritage Service Enter into an MOU for the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee Session
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Busan and the Korea Heritage Service Enter into an MOU for the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee Session
□ On December 12th, 2025, at 14:00, Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Korea Heritage Service (Administrator Huh Min) at the main conference room of the Korea Heritage Service in the Government Complex Daejeon to back preparations for the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee.
○ Seong Hee-yeop, Vice Mayor for Future Innovation, and Choi Bo-geun, Vice Administrator of the Korea Heritage Service, attended the ceremony.
□ The World Heritage Committee is the largest of its kind worldwide; this MOU builds a coordinated framework to ensure the success of the 48th session in Busan in July 2026—the first time the Committee will convene in Korea.
○ The partnership covers: ▲ personnel and budgetary support, ▲ the creation of favorable conditions for international conferences by leveraging Busan’s infrastructure, and ▲ the promotion of K-Heritage through World Heritage-linked efforts.
<About the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee>
ㅇ Period: July 12–29, 2026
ㅇ Venue: BEXCO and surrounding areas
ㅇ Expected Turnout: Approximately 3,000 individuals, including the Director-General of UNESCO, representatives (ministerial or deputy-ministerial level) from the 21 members of the World Heritage Committee, delegations from 196 states party to the World Heritage Convention, and advisory bodies (ICOMOS, etc.)
ㅇ Highlights: Pre-forums, plenary meetings, and side events (seminars, exhibitions, performances, tours, etc.)
ㅇ Organizer/Host: Korea Heritage Service/Busan Metropolitan City
□ An exciting line-up will be curated, drawing on local cultural and tourism resources to facilitate memorable engagement for participants.
○ Upcoming experiences encompass coastal wellness activities like beach yoga, as well as a reenactment of the Joseon Tongsinsa procession.
□ In line with the selection of ‘Heritage of Busan as the Wartime Capital*’ for the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in November, the city will introduce a variety of thematic programs featuring its rich assets.
* The serial property consisting of the following 11 component sites
① Temporary Presidential Residence (Provisional Capital Memorial Hall)
② Temporary Government Complex (Seokdang Museum, Dong-A University)
③ Ami-dong Tombstone Village
④ Korea Meteorological Administration (Busan Regional Office of Meteorology)
⑤ U.S. Embassy/U.S. Information Service (Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum Annex)
⑥ Pier 1 of Busan Port
⑦ Camp Hialeah (Busan Citizens Park)
⑧ United Nations Memorial Cemetery
⑨ Uam-dong Cattle Shed Village
⑩ Yeongdo Bridge (Yeongdodaegyo)
⑪ Bokbyeongsan Reservoir
○ Field trips to these historic locations will offer both visitors and residents impactful opportunities to deepen their appreciation of World Heritage values.
□ Busan is working closely not only with the Korea Heritage Service, but also with relevant institutions—the Busan Tourism Organization, BEXCO, the Busan Cinema Center, and the Busan Cultural Foundation—while actively conducting public outreach.
Heritage of Busan as the Wartime Capital website: https://www.busan.go.kr/wartime_capital_eng/index
