KHS and UNESCO Sign MOU on the Framework Arrangement
to Contribute to the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund
- Starting this year, KHS, to provide an annual contribution of 1 billion won over the next five years to establish and manage a global platform for sharing good safeguarding practices in the preservation and transmission of intangible cultural heritage -
The Korea Heritage Service(Administrator Choi, Eungchon) has signed a Framework Arrangement with UNESCO in Paris, France on May 23 at 2:00 pm local time to contribute to the Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund under the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage(ICH).
The MOU on the Framework Arrangement will enable the KHS and UNESCO to collaborate on the establishment of the online platform for sharing good safeguarding experiences in Intangible Cultural Heritage. The project, led by UNESCO, aims to enhance global awareness and facilitate information sharing on ICH by improving online access to exemplary cases of its safeguarding and transmission worldwide.
The Korea Heritage Service intends to contribute approximately 1 billion KRW annually to the Funds-in-Trust for this project over the next five years. This marks the first time a separate fund has been established within UNESCO specifically for the ICH sector.
Following the signing ceremony, the Administrator reviewed the beta version of the ICH Online Platform, which will be operated with the funds provided.
Meanwhile, the Administrator met with Ernesto Ottone Ramirez, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Culture and firmly emphasized the importance of the ROK hosting the 2026 World Heritage Committee, which will be decided in July.
Further, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Korea Heritage Service’s inception on May 17, 2024, Administrator Choi, Eungchon pledged to continue leading efforts in the international heritage sector.
As a point of reference, the Republic of Korea has a total of 23 elements inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, placing it forth worldwide following China(39 elements), Turkey(28 elements) and France(26 elements) among the 184 States Parties to the Convention.
In addition, the Korean government is striving to be elected as a member of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2026-2030 term. If elected, this would further strengthen ROK’s international standing and influence within the domain of ICH.
The Korea Heritage Service is determined to maintain its proactive administrative efforts to reinforce its position as a global leader in safeguarding ICH by expanding its collaborative endeavors with UNESCO.