1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, hosted the 2022 International Conference on UNESCO World Heritage Interpretation in Seoul on December 8.

° Korea has hosted the International Conference on UNESCO World Heritage Interpretation every year since 20l6, raising awareness and leading discussions in the area of heritage interpretation.

2. The 2022 Conference, themed “World Heritage Interpretation: World Heritage Convention for Peace & Reconciliation,” was held in a real time-online and offline format, bringing together world heritage experts from home and abroad and diplomatic corps from the member states  of the World Heritage Committee.

° The participants shared the view on the importance of world heritage interpretation as a way for future development of the World Heritage Convention, of which this year marks the 50th anniversary; and discussed principles of world heritage interpretation, including peace-building, a human rights-based approach, the respect for cultural diversity, the reflection of multiple voices, and the accordance with principles for sustainable development.

3. In her opening remarks, Director-General for Public Diplomacy and Cultural Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lee Kyung-ah emphasized that the need for world heritage interpretation, which takes into account multiple voices and full history, continues to be raised. She added that Korea will continue contributing to the promotion and diffusion of understanding on world heritage interpretation through the International Centre for the Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage, the UNESCO Category 2 Centre established in Korea in 2022.

° In his video congratulatory remarks, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre Lazare Eloundou Assomo extended appreciation to Korea for its great contribution to the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, including world heritage interpretation, and noted that inclusive and fair heritage interpretation is a valuable asset for world peace and reconciliation.