The Korea Heritage Service has announced plans to invite North Korea to participate in the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Busan in July next year. Huh Min, administrator of the Korea Heritage Service, revealed during a press briefing that the agency is seeking UNESCO's assistance to facilitate North Korea's participation in this significant cultural heritage event.
"We are planning to invite North Korea. However, rather than carrying this out solely on our own, I have sent a letter to UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay," Huh explained during the Monday press conference. He emphasized that he had requested Azoulay to mediate so that both Koreas could participate together in next year's World Heritage Committee meeting and potentially collaborate on joint initiatives.
Huh also disclosed that he had communicated this position to heads of key UNESCO advisory bodies during their recent visit to Korea. These officials included Teresa Patricio, president of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral, director-general of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).
The Korea Heritage Service administrator proposed an ambitious vision centered around the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). "The Demilitarized Zone is the only place left in the world that remains a divided zone between two countries, and it is the most ecologically well-preserved area in the world. It contains both historical and cultural heritage," Huh stated. He suggested that through the DMZ, both countries could deliver a message of peace to the world and potentially pursue joint listing as a World Heritage site for both South and North Korea.
While the committee meeting itself will be held in Busan, Huh proposed considering the possibility of making a "peace declaration" at the DMZ. This initiative represents part of the Korea Heritage Service's broader vision of leveraging Korean heritage as a resource in the country's efforts to become a cultural powerhouse, while simultaneously seeking to improve relations with North Korea.
The agency has outlined specific collaborative projects as first steps toward renewed cooperation. The primary initiative involves resuming joint excavation work at Manwoldae, a royal palace of the Goryeo Dynasty located in Kaesong, North Korea. This archaeological project has been suspended since 2018 and represents a significant opportunity for inter-Korean cultural collaboration.
Additionally, the Korea Heritage Service plans to establish a collaborative framework with civil society organizations to support the restoration of Yujeomsa, a temple located in Mount Kumkang in North Korea. Mount Kumkang was recently added to UNESCO's World Heritage list, making the restoration project particularly significant for cultural preservation efforts.
Beyond inter-Korean cooperation, the state agency has identified several key domestic objectives for expanding the value of national heritage. These include actively discovering underrepresented heritage sites, enhancing public accessibility to cultural properties, and strengthening safety and preservation measures, particularly in response to climate change challenges.
The Korea Heritage Service also aims to modernize its operations through the implementation of artificial intelligence and digital technologies for global expansion. The agency plans to improve administrative efficiency through comprehensive organizational, personnel, and budget reforms as part of its strategic transformation into a more effective cultural heritage management body.
