On 13th July, the 2026 World Heritage Young Professionals Forum, a special preparatory meeting for the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, opened its doors in Seoul, where experts from all over the world gathered to discuss the future of World Heritage conservation.
For nine days, from July 21, 32 young professionals from 30 countries will visit UNESCO World Heritage properties in Seoul, Suwon and Gyeongju, and in Busan to learn how to build the protection and sustainable use of these properties for the future.
The World Heritage Committee has been organising the Young Professionals Forum as an official event before the annual meeting of the World Heritage Committee since 1995.
The theme of this year’s forum is “World Heritage, Communities and Education: Empowering Youth as Agents of Change.”
Participants will share experiences on community- and people-centred approaches to World Heritage management, enhancing education, research and learning for World Heritage, and the active involvement of young people as key stakeholders in World Heritage.
The participants will present a Youth Declaration that reflects their discussions at the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee on 20th July in Bexco, Busan.
But our future of the World Heritage is connected with our past, and our choice today is crucial, said Huh Min, Administrator of the Korea Heritage Service, in his opening remarks.
World Heritage is more powerful and sustainable when communities are involved, when education helps people appreciate it, and when young people inject fresh ideas and energy.
Secretary-General of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO, Hong Hyun-ik, said, “We defend the World Heritage because it is a bridge that connects us across the borders; further, it empowers us to pass on our common humanity and to build a strong foundation for the defence of peace in the minds of humankind worldwide.”
The main theme of this forum “reminds us that you are not just the leaders of tomorrow — you are the changemakers of today,” he added.
Young participants were called ‘actors of change’ by Lee Byung-hyun, chairperson of the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO.
These are the qualities that the World Heritage Convention needs to face the challenges of the 21st century – your diverse perspectives, your expertise with innovation, your cooperative approach. “Your voice is important, your ideas are important.”
