South Korea's newly appointed heritage chief announced plans to extend an invitation to North Korea for the upcoming UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting scheduled to be held in Busan in 2026. The initiative represents a significant diplomatic outreach effort aimed at fostering cultural cooperation between the two Koreas through international heritage preservation activities.
Huh Min, who was recently named as the head of the Korea Heritage Service, made this announcement during a press conference held at Deoksu Palace in Seoul on Monday. The meeting marked one of his first major public appearances since taking on the leadership role of the country's primary cultural heritage protection agency. His proposal reflects South Korea's continued commitment to engaging North Korea through cultural and academic channels despite ongoing political tensions.
The 2026 UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in Busan will bring together international experts, government officials, and heritage professionals from around the world to discuss the protection and preservation of global cultural and natural heritage sites. As the host country, South Korea has the opportunity to shape the agenda and extend invitations to participating nations and organizations. The inclusion of North Korea would mark a notable moment of inter-Korean cooperation in the international cultural arena.
This invitation comes at a time when formal diplomatic relations between Seoul and Pyongyang remain strained, making cultural and heritage cooperation one of the few remaining channels for potential engagement. Heritage preservation and UNESCO activities have historically served as neutral ground for international cooperation, even between nations with difficult political relationships.
