G-Dragon, whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong, 38, has been named ambassador for the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee to be held in Busan.
The Korea Heritage Service said Tuesday it has appointed G-Dragon as ambassador for the "48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee," which will be held in Busan starting July 19. On this matter, the Korea Heritage Service explained, "G-Dragon is an artist who has wielded global influence across culture and the arts beyond K-pop. In 2024, through a copyright donation, he established the public-interest corporation JUSPEACE Foundation and serves as its honorary chairman, leading efforts to solve social problems through art and spread public-interest culture."
An official on G-Dragon's side said, "I find it very meaningful to serve as ambassador for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in Korea for the first time," and added, "As World Heritage is a common asset that all of humanity must protect together, I want to convey a message of peace that many people can relate to and act upon together," the Korea Heritage Service relayed.
The agency judged that the values of G-Dragon and the JUSPEACE Foundation—"small participation changes the world and creates peace"—connect with the spirit of "international cooperation for peace" that UNESCO pursues, and selected G-Dragon as the optimal partner to communicate to the world the significance of the World Heritage Committee being held in Korea for the first time.
Meanwhile, the JUSPEACE Foundation plans to unveil "Heritage in Peace," a citizen-participation campaign to protect World Heritage in cooperation with UNESCO, on July 10, marking the domestic hosting of the 48th World Heritage Committee.
The campaign was designed to raise public awareness of World Heritage and to present a new participation model in which citizens, companies, and cities protect heritage together by encouraging voluntary donations to the UNESCO World Heritage Fund. In particular, it aims to draw participation from Busan citizens and the local community during the 48th World Heritage Committee, creating the first exemplary case of a "city campaign" whose tradition can be continued in future host cities of the committee.
Donations raised through the campaign will be delivered to the UNESCO World Heritage Fund and used to protect World Heritage sites threatened by war, climate crisis, and natural disasters. G-Dragon will participate in on-site events to convey the message of "Peace through Culture & Participation" both at home and abroad.
