By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee

The Seoul government officially announced on July 16 that South Korea had been selected as the host country for the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting scheduled to be held in July 2026.

Presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong said in a briefing that day, “This decision is a result of the international community recognizing South Korea's leading role in the protection of world cultural heritage and international cultural cooperation.”

This will be the first time that the UNESCO World Heritage Committee will be held in South Korea. Spokesperson Kang emphasized, “This is a historic moment to showcase South Korea’s status as a cultural powerhouse to the world and an opportunity to once again highlight the value of our cultural heritage.”

In particular, 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the inscription of Korea's representative cultural heritage sites, such as Seokguram Grotto, Bulguksa Temple, and Jongmyo Shrine, on the UNESCO World Heritage List, making the holding of this committee even more meaningful.

Spokesperson Kang emphasized, “World Heritage sites are not simply cultural heritage sites, but rather a shared asset of humanity that connects the past, present, and future,” adding, “Amidst climate change, urbanization, and development pressures, now is the time when continuous protection and management are needed more than ever.”

The government plans to use this event as an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation for the protection of World Heritage sites and expand South Korea's contribution within the global cultural network, including UNESCO.

Spokesperson Kang said, “South Korea will fulfill its responsibilities as a global cultural powerhouse and work with the international community to gather wisdom for the sustainable preservation of World Heritage sites.”

The 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting is an international cultural event attended by approximately 2,000 people, including cultural heritage experts, government officials, and UNESCO representatives from around the world, and is scheduled to be held in a major city in South Korea in July 2026.