My fellow Koreans, citizens of Busan, and distinguished guests from around the world,

It is an honor to welcome the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to Busan, Korea for its 48th session.

This year’s meeting carries special significance as UNESCO commemorates the 150th anniversary of the birth of Baekbeom Kim Gu, one of Korea’s foremost independence leaders. I join the Korean people in celebrating this deeply meaningful occasion.

I also extend my warmest welcome to UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany and to the distinguished delegates, who have long devoted themselves to safeguarding and advancing humanity’s shared heritage.

The Republic of Korea has achieved remarkable economic growth and built a vibrant democracy through the cooperation and solidarity of the international community.

On that foundation, Korea has cultivated a rich cultural heritage and become a country whose culture inspires and connects with people around the world.

Our journey - from a nation that once received aid, to one that now provides it, and beyond that, to a nation that shares the value of its culture with the world - is a testament to what international cooperation and solidarity can achieve.

Busan embodies Korea's modern history.

During the Korean War, Busan served as the nation's temporary capital, bearing the weight of the country's survival. As the gateway for international assistance, it received support from around the world and laid the foundations for Korea's recovery, growth, and prosperity.

From the ashes of war, Busan has grown into a global maritime city connecting East Asia with the wider world, and a vibrant cultural city that engages and inspires people across the globe.

Busan stands as living proof of how international cooperation can transform the destiny of both a city and a nation.

Against this historical backdrop, it is especially fitting that the UNESCO World Heritage Committee—where the international community comes together to safeguard and pass on humanity's precious heritage—is being held here in Busan.

The world heritage we seek to protect is far more than a legacy of the past.

It is a symbol that unites humanity across borders and generations, and a firm foundation for advancing peace and cooperation among nations.

As we preserve and remember our shared heritage together, we deepen respect for one another's histories, strengthen mutual trust, and reinforce our solidarity as one human community.

At a time marked by conflict and division, dialogue through culture is more important than ever.

Culture is a gentle yet profoundly powerful force that transcends language and borders, enabling us to understand one another and build genuine empathy.

My fellow citizens, distinguished guests,

Decades ago, Baekbeom Kim Gu envisioned a nation that would contribute to humanity not through wealth or power, but through the strength of its culture.

He believed that the roots of humanity's suffering lay within the human heart, and that culture offered the surest path to overcoming them.

The spirit of the UNESCO Constitution—that "since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed"—points to the very same truth that Baekbeom Kim Gu recognized: that culture is the path to peace and to harmony among humanity.

That the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is being held in Korea during the year marking the 150th anniversary of Baekbeom Kim Gu's birth is no mere coincidence.

Today, Korea has emerged as a leading cultural nation, telling stories that move, inspire, and resonate with people around the world.

Drawing on the strength of our culture, we will carry forward Baekbeom Kim Gu's vision: safeguarding humanity's precious heritage together and contributing to peace and prosperity around the world.

Together with UNESCO and in solidarity with the international community, Korea will continue working toward a more peaceful and more prosperous future for all.

Once again, I warmly congratulate everyone gathered here in Busan for the convening of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

May this session mark a new milestone in the protection of world heritage and in international cooperation.

Thank you.