Lourdu Asomo, Director of UNESCO World Heritage Centre: 'World Heritage is a Product of Dialogue and Cooperation... All Nations Must Safeguard It'

Lourdu Asomo, Director of UNESCO's World Heritage Centre, emphasized the importance of solidarity and principles in addressing global cultural heritage issues during an interview in Busan. He highlighted South Korea's role in hosting the 48th World Heritage Committee and discussed controversies such as Japan's Sasando Mine decision, the Jeongmyo development dispute, and cultural destruction in conflict zones. Asomo stressed that UNESCO's 2024 Sasando Mine inscription required full historical transparency by 2027, noting that Japan's submission lacked sufficient evidence. He reiterated that UNESCO's decisions reflect 21-member consensus, affirming national commitments to heritage protection. Regarding Jeongmyo, he called it 'a precious gem' of Korean history requiring strict impact assessments despite urban development pressures. He also condemned Ukraine's cultural destruction as a war crime, warning that heritage loss equates to human destruction.