Seoul: South Korea and France have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate in conserving two of their most important cultural landmarks, Jongmyo Shrine in Korea and the Basilica of Saint-Denis in France, as announced by Seoul's heritage agency.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) stated that the agreement was signed in Seoul with France's National Monuments Center under the French Culture Ministry. The aim is to enhance cooperation in the conservation of cultural heritage. This partnership will involve joint efforts in the preservation and management of Jongmyo and the Basilica of Saint-Denis, respecting each nation's historical and cultural practices.

Jongmyo is recognized as a royal shrine where ancestral tablets of kings and queens from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) are enshrined. It was first inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage list in South Korea in 1995, along with Seokguram Grotto, Bulguk Temple, and the Janggyeong Panjeon at Haein Temple. Meanwhile, the Basilica of Saint-Denis, located in the northern suburb of Paris, has been the burial site for French royalty since the 7th century and contains the tombs of numerous kings, queens, princes, and princesses.

The Korea Heritage Service noted that this MOU is a result of the recent summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and French President Emmanuel Macron in Seoul. During a high-level meeting with French culture ministry officials, both parties agreed to further expand expert exchanges and joint field visits connecting their significant heritage sites.