UNESCO World Heritage Committee kicks off in Paris ahead of Busan session

South Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration has unveiled detailed operational plans for the "Busan World Heritage Committee" to representatives of the 196 states parties to the World Heritage Convention.

The Cultural Heritage Administration and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre held an information meeting Monday at UNESCO headquarters in Paris for organizations participating in the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session. The meeting shared the full operational framework for the committee session, set to take place at BEXCO in Busan in July, and drew participation from all 196 states parties to the World Heritage Convention, the World Heritage Centre and its advisory bodies.

The meeting proceeded in the following order: opening remarks by Lazare Eloundou Assomo, officer-in-charge of UNESCO's Culture Sector; remarks by Lee Byung-hyun, president of the committee; remarks by Choi Bo-geun, vice commissioner of the Cultural Heritage Administration; a presentation on South Korea's preparations; a presentation on the World Heritage Centre's preparations; and a question-and-answer session. A live internet stream ran in parallel to accommodate participants across different time zones and geographic locations.

At the meeting, the Cultural Heritage Administration presented plans for operating the BEXCO facility, participant registration procedures, transportation and accommodation support, and the range of cultural events South Korea has organized. It particularly highlighted a large-scale exhibition at the "Korea Pavilion," performances showcasing Korean culture, and a cultural heritage tour program, saying it plans to use the committee session as an opportunity to broaden interest in Korean culture among global experts and senior officials in the cultural sector.

"Busan is a dynamic maritime city where tradition and innovation coexist, and a city of peace that symbolizes the growth South Korea has achieved with the support of the international community," Vice Commissioner Choi Bo-geun said. "We will do our utmost to ensure that participants can directly experience South Korea's World Heritage sites and warm hospitality through this committee session."

Meanwhile, the Cultural Heritage Administration said it will use the information meeting as an opportunity to strengthen cooperation with the World Heritage Centre, the city of Busan and other relevant agencies, while reviewing preparations to ensure the main sessions and all side events run smoothly.