South Korea showcases cultural heritage at first UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in Busan

By Shim Sun-ah

BUSAN, July 20 (Yonhap) -- Marking its first time hosting a UNESCO World Heritage Committee session, South Korea opened a large-scale pavilion at the event's venue in Busan on Monday to showcase its cultural heritage and international preservation efforts.

The venue, set up at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center where the 48th session of the committee is taking place from July 20-29, brings together 35 institutions, including government bodies, local authorities and Buddhist organizations.

Spanning an area equivalent to two football fields, the site offers exhibitions, performances and hands-on programs for delegates and visitors.

Organized by the Korea Heritage Service, the "K-Heritage House" introduces the country's UNESCO-listed assets and heritage administration policies through four themed zones: an archive section tracing the past, present and future of heritage; a living intangible heritage zone; a technology-driven heritage future section; and interactive spaces featuring cultural goods and visitor activities.

At the core of the exhibition, the Korea and UNESCO section outlines the significance of World Heritage and highlights Seoul's role in preservation and international cooperation.

A separate Busan-themed gallery spotlights the host city's historical and cultural identity, including its role as a temporary capital during the 1950-53 Korean War.

The exhibition also presents the country's documentary heritage in collaboration with the National Archives of Korea, displaying original records with digital installations.

Additional booths, installed by regional governments, institutions and the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, promote heritage sites and candidates on UNESCO's tentative list. These include the Gaya Tumuli, a group of ancient burial mounds; the Getbol Korean Tidal Flats, a vast expanse of biodiverse wetlands; the Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream, featuring prehistoric rock carvings; and the Sansa, or Buddhist mountain monasteries of Korea.

Visitors formed long lines in the morning outside the galleries to see immersive media art installations reinterpreting Korean heritage through digital technology.

Highlights include a reinterpretation of the petroglyphs, a 9-meter-high media column, and interactive displays inspired by royal gardens, Confucian academies and southern Korea's traditional folk music.

In the living heritage section, visitors can watch performances and craft demonstrations by designated masters of national intangible heritage. Fourteen artisans are taking part in joint presentations of 11 traditional skills, including "gat" (traditional hat) making, offering close-up demonstrations and hands-on experiences.

The main stage within the "K-Heritage House" is hosting 38 performances throughout the session, including UNESCO-listed traditions such as the "Cheoyongmu" dance, the "Bukcheong" lion play and Buddhist ritual ceremonies.

Baek Chi-hyun, a university student who traveled five hours by train from her hometown of Gunsan the day before to visit the venue, said she was "fascinated" after watching a craftsman make a traditional "gat" up close.

"I didn't realize there were so many practitioners of intangible heritage," she said. "Opportunities like this are rare, so it feels like a very special experience."

Stirling Smith, a curator from a national museum in Sydney, said it was "very refreshing to see how Korea cares for their heritage but also informs young people about their heritage."

"I was particularly taken with the education center that you have on heritage. I thought that was fantastic," he added.

Peter Owen, who is participating in the 48th session as an observer for an Australian nonprofit environmental group, visited a booth on the Korean tidal flats.

He said the issue of protecting migratory bird habitats from potential development threats resonated with him personally, noting many of the same migratory bird species pass through his home region in Coorong, South Australia.

"Their plight is connected across the world," he said. "It's not just about this site here, it's about those birds and their migratory routes right across the world."