Seoul: The foreign ministry announced that it conducted an international conference alongside a UNESCO advisory body in Seoul to explore methods for enhancing the interpretation and presentation of World Heritage sites. The conference aimed to refine international guidelines to address emerging challenges in the field.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the event was co-hosted by the ministry and ICOMOS-ICIP, a scientific committee under the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), which serves as UNESCO's advisory body on cultural heritage. Approximately 100 experts and officials convened to discuss the evolution of international standards for heritage interpretation in response to new challenges in the cultural heritage sector.

In her opening remarks, Oh Jin-hee, the director general for public and cultural diplomacy at the ministry, highlighted the significance of heritage interpretation in communicating the "outstanding universal value" of World Heritage properties. The ministry noted that South Korea has organized 10 international conferences on World Heritage interpretation since 2016, significantly contributing to the field's development and leading international discussions on the topic.

The conference was held ahead of the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, which South Korea will chair in the southeastern port city of Busan from July 19-29.