Korea Heritage Service (KHS) Administrator Huh Min on Dec. 10 announces the three key strategies for the hosting of next year's session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan at a meeting on national policy coordination at Government Complex-Seoul in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. (KHS)

By Margareth Theresia

The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) has finalized its plan to host next year's session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan and launched preparation for the event.

The KHS on Dec. 10 announced its plan to promote the session in a meeting on national policy coordination at Government Complex-Seoul in Seoul's Jongno-gu District.

Korea will thus host the event for the first time since joining the World Heritage Convention in 1988 and use it as a key opportunity to promote Korean heritage around the globe.

As preparation, the KHS presented the three strategies of hosting international conferences, promoting Korean heritage and creating sustainable policy results to solidify the country's status as a cultural power.

For a successful event, the agency secured a budget of KRW 17.9 billion for next year and formed a preparatory planning committee in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Busan Metropolitan Government.

The KHS will also hold inclusive meetings to support participation by less developed countries like those in Africa and small island developing states. Thorough preparation will also go into the expanded registration of Phase II of gaetbol (tidal flats), for which the final decision on registration will come next year.

To introduce Korean heritage worldwide, the KHS will host promotional programs like media art exhibitions, ceremony for changing of the royal guard at Gyeongbokgung Palace, traditional performances and demonstrations, and international seminars.

As the chair country, the agency will raise global cooperation to produce sustainable policy outcomes. To lead discussions on world heritage agenda, Seoul will also seek the adoption of an international declaration embracing values such as reconciliation and cooperation and devise a mid- to long-term plan to inscribe such heritage to promote the registration of World Heritage sites.

margareth@korea.kr