UNESCO heritage chief praises Korea's global leadership

BUSAN — In a historic milestone for Asian heritage diplomacy, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee convened in Korea for its 48th session, marking the first time the country has hosted the prestigious international gathering. Lazare Eloundou Assomo, director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, expressed deep gratitude to the Korean government and emphasized the nation’s rising stature in global heritage preservation. "This World Heritage Committee session is a very important and historic one, because it is the first one we are having here in the Republic of Korea," Eloundou Assomo said during an interview session at BEXCO in Busan, Friday.

"Being here in Busan marks the demonstration of the commitment of the Republic of Korea to its cooperation with UNESCO, and in particular for world heritage." Addressing sensitive international issues, including Thursday’s World Heritage Committee decision calling on Japan to fully reflect the “whole history”— notably wartime forced labor of Koreans — at the Sado Island Gold Mines, Eloundou Assomo framed the committee’s process as one