- Beginning with the Gaya Tumuli experience (June 22–23), a total of eight UNESCO World Heritage tours will be held until November

- Content creators (influencers) from various countries to share their program experiences on social media

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister YU In Chon, MCST) holds eight sessions of the “UNESCO World Heritage Explore” program from June 22 to November. The aim is to introduce international expatriates living in Korea to UNESCO World Heritage sites and help them understand their value. The UNESCO World Heritage Explore program, conducted annually since 2014, has been promoting a positive image of Korea by introducing foreign nationals living in Korea to its globally recognized traditional cultural heritage.

Explore World Heritage such as Gaya Tumuli, Baekje Historic Areas, and Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon  created and promoted

This year’s program will commence with Gaya Tumuli, commemorating its listing as a UNESCO World Heritage in 2023. Participants will also have opportunities to experience other cultural heritage sites, including the Baekje Historic Areas, Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon (Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks), and Seowon (Korean Neo-Confucian Academies). In addition, the program includes visits to Samnye Culture and Art Village and Donguibogam Village, both featured in the MCST’s Local 100[1] list. The aim is to promote the excellence and value of Korea’s UNESCO cultural heritage by engaging public opinion leaders, including foreign content creators (influencers) who have influence both domestically and internationally.

During the first tour of the program, foreign content creators (influencers) and international students visit Gaya Tumuli, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Gimhae and Haman, Gyeongsangnam-do, on June 22–23. They learned about the history of the Gaya civilization, visiting significant heritage sites such as the Daeseong-dong Tumuli in Gimhae and the Tomb of King Suro, founder of the Gaya Dynasty. Participants also learned to play the gayageum, a musical instrument originating from the Gaya period. The tour included a visit to the Malisan Tumuli in Haman, which provides insights into the existence and external relations of Aragaya. In addition, participants strolled through the Haman Lotus Theme Park, constructed around a natural swamp in the historic Gaya district. After exploring the ancient Gaya region, participants will produce content using their distinct perspectives and production techniques, which they will share through social media.

Gaya Tumuli is a testament to Gaya, a unique East Asian ancient civilization that maintained a distinct federated political system while coexisting with the more powerful centralized states of Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla. Exploring this area offers an excellent opportunity to introduce foreigners to this lesser-known aspect of Gaya’s history.

Mena, a short-form video content creator from Egypt, shared, “When I initially decided to come to Korea, K-drama had a profound influence on my decision. However, after living here for four years, I’ve grown more fascinated by the beauty of Korea’s distinctive traditional culture. I’m already curious to discover the charm of Gaya, which is often described as a forgotten nation even in Korean history.” Pamela from the Philippines, a student of World Heritage Studies, remarked, “Korea’s national heritage is globally recognized for its value. I am eager to explore Gaya Tumuli, a distinctive cultural heritage site that embodies the identity of the Gaya civilization.”

Beginning with this visit to Gaya Tumuli, the MCST will host seven additional sessions of the UNESCO World Heritage Explore program. Content creators (influencers), embassy and international organization staff, media personnel connected to expatriate communities in Korea, and international journalists will explore Korea’s history and experience Korean culture at sites such as the Baekje Historic Areas, Donamseowon Confucian Academy in Nonsan, Haeinsa Temple, and the Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong. The final part of this year’s program will focus on “Jang Damgeugi” (Korean sauce and paste making), which is being promoted for inclusion as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In addition, the ministry plans to create videos showcasing the various activities of the participants and the content they produced during their visits. These videos will be shared globally through Korea.net’s official YouTube channel.[2]

The Deputy Minister from the International Cultural Affairs and Public Relations Office at the MCST, stated, “This year’s UNESCO World Heritage Explore program is designed to showcase Korea’s rich history and culture to international students majoring in Korean studies and related fields, as well as to opinion leaders such as content creators (influencers) and community managers, who can continuously disseminate information and experiences about Korea. We anticipate that participants from various countries will effectively capture Korea’s cultural heritage and local culture through original content, thereby significantly enhancing Korea’s positive image globally.”