A Glimpse into the Future of the National Heritage Industry... 'World National Heritage Industry Expo' to Be Held in Gyeongju

See the Latest Industry Trends and New Technologies at a Glance
129 Companies and Organizations to Participate

An event introducing new technologies in the field of national heritage and seeking industrial development and job creation will be held.

Last Year's World Intangible Cultural Heritage Industry Expo Site

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 9th that, together with Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and Gyeongju City, it will host the "2025 World Intangible Cultural Heritage Industry Expo" from June 12 to 14 at the Gyeongju Hwabaek Convention Center and throughout the Gyeongju area. A record high of 129 companies and organizations will participate in the event, operating exhibition and promotional booths. The expo will showcase technologies and R&D trends related to the national heritage industry, including excavation, conservation and maintenance, safety management technologies and systems, and artificial intelligence (AI). Various programs will also be held, such as workshops for public officials in charge of national heritage at local governments, national heritage technology consulting sessions, and buyer meetings with domestic and international purchasers.

In particular, at the "Heritage Future Forum" on June 13, Elizabeth Lee, Vice President of Development at CyArk, a U.S. organization that records and preserves world cultural heritage sites as three-dimensional (3D) data, and Isabelle Lesecq, Head of International Development at Memorist, a French company specializing in cultural heritage conservation, restoration, and digitization, will deliver lectures on "Creating Economic Value of National Heritage for a Sustainable Future."

During the event, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage will operate an exhibition titled "National Heritage Enjoyed by All Through Good Technology," which highlights the achievements of the "Reading by Touch, Communicating by Sound: National Heritage" project that has been underway since 2020. The exhibition will introduce technologies such as a special coating using ink and natural materials that prevents Braille from wearing off, a three-step Braille technique that allows visually impaired individuals to feel drawings, a sound pen that plays audio from any point on a book, and tactile teaching aids that let visitors feel the actual texture of Seokguram stone.

Last Year's World Intangible Cultural Heritage Industry Expo Site

An exhibition hall introducing advanced technology achievements in the national heritage R&D sector will also be set up. Technologies to be showcased include processing and converting hand-drawn images of wooden architecture into CAD data, as well as lightweight, high-performance flame-retardant fabrics superior to existing products. A representative from the institute said, "In addition to experiencing the developed products, we will also hold buyer meetings for technology transfer and product sales."

There will also be a variety of programs for visitors to better understand and enjoy the national heritage industry. These include hands-on programs featuring traditional crafts such as Okjang, Jokjang, Hwahaejang, Seokjang, Gat-il, and Giwajang, a fusion magic show set in the Silla era, local cultural heritage tours with curators, and lectures by Dr. Kwak Jaesik and science YouTuber Gwedo.

The expo is open to everyone free of charge. The opening ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on June 12. Participants can join by pre-registering on the official website or registering on-site during the event period. A representative from the Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "We will support the revitalization of national heritage-related businesses, including technology development, increased investment, and the creation of new jobs, so that this can become an opportunity for active economic activity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.