2019 International Conference on UNESCO World Heritage Interpretation Held

□ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea (ROK), together with the Cultural Heritage Administration and the Korean National Commission for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), held the 2019 International Conference on UNESCO World Heritage Interpretation on Tuesday, May 14.
○ In his opening remarks, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Lee Tae-ho, emphasizing that handing over important world heritage of humankind to future generations is our privilege and responsibility, commented that comprehensive interpretation strategies encompassing both positive and negative aspects of history is significant in that the significance of world heritage are not fixed, but is reinterpreted and evolves in accordance with changing historical, social and cultural contexts. 
○ In that sense, Vice Minister Lee stressed that obligations to establish comprehensive interpretation strategies covering different historical perspectives should not be shunned; asked for all the UNESCO members to faithfully implement decisions by the World Heritage Committee on the interpretation of world heritage; and suggested that all meaningful records and documents should be handed over to future generations as a full history and that everyone get open access to such data as documented heritage.
○ In addition, Vice Minister Lee said that it is pleasing to hear the news that the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) inscribed “Seowon,” Korean Neo-Confucian Academies, on the World Heritage List on May 13, and hoped that the Seowon would be finally added to the World Heritage List by the World Heritage Committee scheduled to take place in June 2019 (June 31-July 10, Baku in the Republic of Azerbaijan).

□ Bringing together about 250 participants including Administrator Chung Jae-suk of the Korean National Commission, representatives of the UNESCO members, international experts on the interpretation of world heritage, members of the diplomatic corps in the ROK, both domestic and foreign guests, and ordinary citizens who have a keen interest in world heritages, the conference was successfully concluded. During the conference, the participants engaged in a
wide range of in-depth discussions on the establishment of comprehensive and inclusive interpretation strategies including the essence of concepts of heritage and evolving trends in heritage interpretation.
○ At the keynote presentation themed “What is heritage?,” the participants re-defined the perspectives on heritages. International experts delivered presentations under the themes of “Trends of Changing Heritage Interpretation” and “Heritage Interpretation on Heritage for Reconciliation and Integration.” Furthermore, Ambassadors accredited to UNESCO and experts at home and abroad engaged in heated discussions.

□ Since its first International Conference on UNESCO World Heritage Interpretation held in 2006, the ROK has held the conferences every year, including this 4th conference, and has played a leading role in the discussion on the interpretation of world heritages. The ROK will further consolidate its leading position in such area by holding a seminar on the interpretation of world heritages as a side event at the 43rd World Heritage Committee set to take place this coming June (June 30-July 10, Baku in Azerbaijan).