Busan has moved to expand cooperation with UNESCO, using the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee as a springboard. The city's vision is to develop Busan into a global cultural heritage hub by pursuing a world cultural heritage cooperation platform and hosting international organizations, rather than ending the World Heritage Committee session as a one-time international event.
According to the Busan Metropolitan Government on the 20th, Mayor Jeon Jae-soo met with UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany at BEXCO that day to discuss ways to expand cooperation in the world heritage field and revitalize international exchange.
The meeting was arranged in connection with Busan's hosting of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, and focused on strengthening the foundation for Busan's world heritage listing and building a long-term cooperation framework.
As a follow-up project to the World Heritage Committee, Mayor Jeon proposed holding a regular "Busan Global Heritage Forum" to discuss common challenges facing humanity, such as war and disaster, the climate crisis, and digital heritage management. He also proposed jointly reviewing the establishment of a "UNESCO Category 2 Center" to serve as an international cooperation hub responsible for world heritage preservation using digital technology and support for developing countries.
In addition, he requested international cooperation for the 2030 world heritage listing of the "Wartime Capital Busan Heritage of the Korean War Period," which is on UNESCO's tentative list of world heritage sites.
Director-General Khaled El-Enany expressed expectations for expanded cooperation with Busan, the city said. "I hope Busan will share its advanced technologies, such as digital and marine technology, and its heritage preservation know-how with the international community and play a leading role in preserving heritage worldwide," he said. "I sincerely hope that the Wartime Capital Busan Heritage will be successfully completed through to its 2030 listing."
Nayef Al-Fayez, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture, also attended the meeting that day. The city presented the two officials with seals engraved with their names in Hangul as souvenirs and called for continued cooperation.
"Through hosting the World Heritage Committee, Busan will be reborn as an international partner that cooperates closely with UNESCO," Mayor Jeon said. "We will continue our cooperation so that Busan can establish itself as an international cultural heritage hub, as well as achieve the world heritage listing of the Wartime Capital Busan Heritage."
