The Korea Heritage Service announced on the 9th that it has selected 18 institutions as official public-private partnership and support organizations for the successful hosting of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which opens in Busan on the 19th.
The 18 official partner institutions (in Korean alphabetical order) are National Geographic Apparel, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, Devsisters, Lotte Wellfood, Buchang Confectionery, Binggrae, Shinsegae, the Juspeace Foundation, Clio, the Korea Tourism Organization, the Taego Order of Korean Buddhism, Korea Railroad Corp. (KORAIL), BEXCO, BNK Busan Bank, Golden Blue, Daesun Distilling, the Busan Tourism Organization, and the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
"We selected the official partner institutions based on open participation and voluntary applications from the private sector, comprehensively considering the effectiveness of the projects and the credibility of the institutions," the Korea Heritage Service said. "The selected official partner institutions will be given brand promotion opportunities at home and abroad, including on-site participation in the committee session, use of the host country emblem, and listing on the World Heritage Committee website."
The 18 official partner institutions will contribute in various areas, including providing goods for participants, supporting events and programs, and cooperating on publicity. To promote the convenience of domestic and international participants attending the committee session, they will provide free souvenirs, refreshments, beverages, and frozen treats, helping attendees focus on the meetings in a comfortable environment.
The institutions will supply personnel and resources for various programs linked to the World Heritage Committee session, including support for cultural performances at the opening and closing ceremonies, temple food experience opportunities, and an exhibition marking the UNESCO anniversary designation of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Kim Koo, known by his pen name Baekbeom, to widely promote Korea's cultural appeal to participants. The institutions also agreed to join forces on domestic and international publicity through their online and offline channels to raise awareness of the World Heritage Committee session and encourage broad public participation.
