Cheong Eungcheon, Cultural Heritage Administration Chief, 4 Major Policy Directions: "Manage as World Heritage... Minimize Public Inconvenience"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] On the 27th at 11 a.m., the Cultural Heritage Administration held a press conference at Chuseon-gwan, the Korean House in Chinatown, Seoul, announcing future cultural heritage policy directions and major implementation tasks. The main points are as follows.

First, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced plans to establish a future cultural asset protection foundation through innovation in the cultural heritage management system. As part of this, it intends to completely overhaul the Cultural Heritage Protection Act, enacted in 1962, to transition to a future-oriented national heritage system. Additionally, the legal system will be reorganized with the 'Basic National Heritage Act' and individual laws reflecting the characteristics of each heritage type (cultural heritage, natural heritage, intangible heritage).

Furthermore, by 2024, a comprehensive survey will be conducted on approximately 60,000 undesignated historical and cultural resources nationwide. A database of materials will be completed, and a heritage listing system will be introduced. By 2025, a 3D precision scanning database of about 4,000 nationally designated and registered cultural properties' original records will be established. Through the enactment of the (tentatively named) National Heritage Industry Promotion Act, efforts will be made to revitalize industries related to cultural heritage.

Second, the enhancement of public cultural enjoyment through dignified utilization of cultural heritage. The Cultural Heritage Administration is preparing legislation to mandate the placement of cultural heritage specialists in local governments to expand cultural heritage preservation and management capabilities. It also plans to nurture intangible heritage transmission communities by category and provide tailored support for vulnerable transmission categories. Plans are underway to expand the 'World Heritage Festival' and 'media art' using the latest media and digital technologies.

Third, minimizing public inconvenience caused by cultural heritage preservation. A comprehensive survey of cultural heritage regulations will be conducted to improve excessive and unreasonable regulations, while legal and institutional policy measures will be prepared to minimize conflicts arising from the protection of private property rights.

Fourth, enhancing national dignity through the dissemination of the value of our heritage. To expand UNESCO heritage registrations, the World Heritage Act will be amended to introduce the 'World Heritage Impact Assessment' system domestically. The 'World Heritage Impact Assessment' system investigates, predicts, and evaluates the impact of development activities on World Heritage sites at the planning stage and adjusts negative impacts in advance. Additionally, efforts will be made to repatriate overseas cultural properties through the Overseas Cultural Heritage Foundation.

Choi Eung-cheon, Administrator of the Cultural Heritage Administration, stated, “The most important goal of cultural heritage policy is for all citizens to cherish and take pride in the cultural heritage around them,” adding, “We will listen openly to voices from the field and continuously seek the direction that cultural heritage policy should take.”

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