1. The Republic of Korea (ROK) was elected to serve on the UNESCO Executive Board during the 2019-2023 term at the 40th session of the UNESCO General Conference held in Paris, the French Republic, on November 20, 2019. It marks the ROK’s 4th consecutive term on the Executive Board since 2007.

° The ROK was elected to the UNESCO Executive Board in 1987 for the first time and has since continued to serve on the Executive Board except for the 2003-2007 term. The country’s recent election to the body marks its 8th election.

° The UNESCO Executive Board is UNESCO’s major decision-making body authorized to propose, deliberate on, and decide on UNESCO’s key projects and administrative matters. It is composed of 58 of the 193 member states of UNESCO.

2. Six countries from Group IV of Asian and Pacific States, to which the ROK belongs, were elected: Those six countries are the ROK, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Among those countries, the ROK won the largest number of votes.

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3. The ROK’s four consecutive elections to the Executive Board carry significance in that the member states of UNESCO have appreciated the country’s efforts at UNESCO to increase opportunities for quality education and to protect cultural heritages as well as its commitment to contribute constructively to UNESCO’s activities aimed at international peace and sustainable development.

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4. As a member of the UNESCO Executive Board over the next four years, the ROK government will take a leading part in UNESCO’s overall discussions and make active efforts to achieve the body’s goals of international peace and common prosperity for mankind.