World heritage representatives gather in Busan for UNESCO committee session

Thousands of global delegates gathered in Busan on Sunday as the UNESCO World Heritage Committee opened its annual session for the first time in the country with a ceremony attended by President Lee Jae Myung.

Around 3,000 participants from 196 member states, international organizations and nongovernmental entities are expected to attend the 10-day meeting at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center in the port city, some 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul, according to organizers.

It marks the first time Korea has hosted the meeting since joining the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in 1988.

Key figures attending the ceremony also included UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany, Assistant Director-General for Culture Nayef Al-Fayez and Lazare Eloundou Assomo, director of the World Heritage Center.

In a congratulatory address, President Lee emphasized that world heritage is not merely a legacy of the past but a symbol uniting humanity across borders, serving as a foundation for peace and cooperation.

"The world can foster mutual respect for each other's history and strengthen trust and ...