UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in Busan adds 25 new sites

The first Unesco World Heritage Committee meeting held in South Korea wrapped up Wednesday after a 10-day session that added 25 new sites to the global heritage list, including Japan’s ancient Asuka-Fujiwara capitals and France’s Normandy D-Day landing beaches. The 48th session at the BEXCO convention center in the southeastern port city of Busan brought the total number of World Heritage properties to 1,273 across 173 countries, the committee said. Among the new inscriptions were the “Asuka-Fujiwara: Archaeological sites of Japan’s Ancient Capitals and Related Properties,” a collection of Asuka-period ruins in the Asian country, and the “Beaches of the […]...Keep on reading: Unesco committee session in S. Korea closes with 25 new heritage sites

The 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee concluded Wednesday in Busan after nearly two weeks of diplomatic and cultural deliberations, adding 25 new sites to the World Heritage List and drawing tens of thousands of visitors to its side events. The gathering at BEXCO, which began July 19, marked the first time Korea has hosted the international committee. According to organizers, approximately 3,000 delegates representing 196 member countries attended the proceedings in person. Concurrently, the "K-Heritage House" public exhibition hall at BEXCO drew more than 120,000 visitors, highlighting public interest in heritage preservation and cultural experiences. Out of 33 agenda items submitted for review, the committee adopted 28 by consensus — approving 25 new listings, two major site expansions and one criteria modification. Notable additions included Greece’s Mount Olympus region, France's 1944 Normandy Landing Beaches, Japan’s ancient capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara, and the Roças of São Tomé and Príncipe. The session marked historic milestones, including the first W

The 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee concludes Wednesday in Busan after nearly two weeks of diplomatic and cultural deliberations, adding 25 new sites to the World Heritage List and drawing tens of thousands of visitors to its side events. The gathering at BEXCO, which began July 19, marked the first time Korea has hosted the international committee. According to organizers, approximately 3,000 delegates representing 196 member countries attended the proceedings in person. Concurrently, the "K-Heritage House" public exhibition hall at BEXCO drew more than 120,000 visitors, highlighting public interest in heritage preservation and cultural experiences. Out of 33 agenda items submitted for review, the committee adopted 28 by consensus — approving 25 new listings, two major site expansions and one criteria modification. Notable additions included Greece’s Mount Olympus region, France's 1944 Normandy Landing Beaches, Japan’s ancient capitals of Asuka and Fujiwara, and the Roças of São Tomé and Príncipe. The session marked historic milestones, including the first W