Director Won Il has been appointed as the executive creative director for the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the first time the event will be held in Korea. The Korea Heritage Service announced Sunday that Won will oversee the production of major events including the opening and closing ceremonies of the World Heritage Committee session to be held in Busan in July.
The World Heritage Committee is an intergovernmental meeting that discusses the inscription, conservation and management of World Heritage sites. This year's session will take place from July 19 to 29 at BEXCO in Busan. It marks the first time Korea has hosted the event since joining the World Heritage Convention in 1988 — 38 years ago.
Won is a certified holder of the national intangible heritage "Piri Jeongak and Daechwita," a traditional Korean court music tradition. He has drawn attention for works that combine elements of tradition and modernity, East and West, rooted in traditional music. He served as executive director of the 2019 National Sports Festival and has held the role of artistic director of the ACC World Music Festival (2024–2026), hosted by the Asia Culture Center (ACC) in Gwangju.
"I will devote all my capabilities to showcasing the beauty of K-Heritage and expressing the value of world heritage in a way that resonates with the international community," Won said.