Korea Heritage Service merges advisory committees into one, names SNU professor as chair

The Korea Heritage Service merged its three different advisory committees into one, aiming to enhance efficiency and expertise in national heritage management.

The newly established National Heritage Committee combines three advisory committees — one for cultural heritage, one for natural heritage and one for intangible heritage — that were previously under the Korea Heritage Service.

The new committee consists of 12 divisions overseeing matters related to national heritage, including  the designation and removal of state-designated heritage, changes in the status of heritage sites, protection of historical and cultural environments, excavation and preservation of buried cultural heritage and applications for Unesco World Heritage status.

"[The reorganization] will help improve expertise and efficiency in areas such as preservation and utilization of heritage, as well as the committee's investigation and review functions," said a spokesperson for the Korea Heritage Service.  

Following the reorganization, 134 committee members and 239 expert advisors were appointed to the National Heritage Committee on Friday.

Jeon Bong-hee, a professor at Seoul National University, was appointed as the chairperson of the committee.  

Jeon, who previously served as the director of Seoul National University's museum and the president of the Korean Association of Architectural History, is known as an expert who broadened research in traditional architecture and culture.  

Three vice chairpersons were also named: Mokwon University Professor Lee Seung-yong, Korea University Professor Jeon Kyung-wook and Kongju National University Professor Seo Jeong-ho.   

The term of committee members and expert advisors will last until May 16, 2028. The full list of members of the first National Heritage Committee is available on the Korea Heritage Service website. 

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY KANG HYE-RAN [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]