Busan to Host World Heritage Committee: 'Korea's Getbol' Expansion and Japan's Forced Labor History on Agenda

Busan is set to host the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, marking the first time South Korea has organized the event since joining the World Heritage Convention in 1988. The committee, opening on July 19, will address several urgent inscription proposals for heritage sites endangered by conflict and other threats.

A significant point of interest for South Korea is the potential expansion of 'Korea's Getbol' (tidal flats) to six sites. Recognized in 2021 for their value as crucial habitats for migratory birds and biodiversity, the initial inscription included four sites. South Korea has applied for the inclusion of two additional tidal flat areas in Seosan and the southern coast, aiming to enhance the protection of their Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) by 2025. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has already provided recommendations, increasing the likelihood of approval.

Another closely watched issue is Japan's Sado Kinzan gold mine. Concerns have been raised that Japan has not fully honored its commitment to acknowledge the history of forced labor by Koreans during its inscription process. The site is already under review for its conservation status, and the committee's decision is expected to address the historical context of forced labor.

The committee will also consider urgent inscriptions for three sites facing immediate threats: the Boma-Badingilo landscape in South Sudan, threatened by civil war and poaching; Sebastia in Palestine, endangered by Israeli settlement expansion; and the Al-Amel Citadel in Lebanon, damaged by recent Israeli-Hezbollah conflict. Additionally, the committee will review the potential re-inscription of the Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which was first inscribed in 1980.

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This World Heritage Committee will be an opportunity for Korea to establish itself as a leading nation in world heritage protection, moving from being a holder of world heritage.