1. The 42nd session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is taking place in Manama, Bahrain, from June 24 to July 4, with about 2,000 people, including representatives from the 21 members of the World Heritage Committee, in presence.

o The ROK delegation, led by Ambassador to UNESCO Lee Byong-hyun, consists of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cultural Heritage Administration, as well as experts from the private sector.

2. In the meeting on June 27, the World Heritage Committee reviewed the implementation of follow-up measures regarding the inscription of the sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution on the World Heritage List in a session on the conservation agenda (agenda 7B), and adopted a Decision by consensus. The gist of the Decision is as follows.

o It recalls the Decision adopted in 2015 (which contains statements made by the Japanese representative).

o It strongly encourages taking into account exemplary cases in the international community in interpreting the full history.

o It encourages continued dialogues between countries concerned.

o It requests that Japan faithfully implement the Decision adopted in 2015.

※ When the sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2015, the World Heritage Committee recommended that Japan devise an interpretive strategy to understand the full history of each facility.

- The Japanese representative said that a number of Koreans and others were brought against their will and forced to work in the 1940s, and that Japan would take measures to remember the victims.

3. Immediately after the adoption of the Decision, the ROK and Japanese representatives, and the Chair of the World Heritage Committee assessed the implication of the adoption by making the following remarks.

o Chair Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa (Bahrain) extended congratulations on the adoption of the Decision by consensus on behalf of the 21 members of the World Heritage Committee, and encouraged the ROK and Japan to continue bilateral consultations on the issue. She also requested the Japanese side faithfully implement the Decisions adopted in 2015 and today.

o Ambassador Lee Byong-hyun hoped that as stated in the Decision adopted today, the ROK and Japan would continue bilateral consultations to faithfully implement the Decision adopted in 2015, and that Japan would take into consideration exemplary practices in the international community in preparing an interpretive strategy to understand the full history of the sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution inscribed on the World Heritage List.

o Japanese Ambassador to UNESCO Takio Yamada said that Japan would maintain the commitments contained in the statement made by the Japanese representative in 2015, and reaffirm its willingness to continue to implement all the recommendations included in the Decision adopted this time.

4. The Decision holds significance in that regarding the inscription of the sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution on the World Heritage List, it recalled the Decision adopted in 2015; requested Japan faithfully implement it; and encouraged dialogues between countries concerned.

5. The ROK government will continue to actively consult with Japan so that the Japanese side can faithfully implement the Decision adopted in 2015, and maintain close cooperation with the international community, including the members of the World Heritage Committee, and related organizations.

* unofficial translation