President Lee: "From Recipient to Donor, Korea's Journey Is a Success Story for Humanity"

President Lee Jae-myung stated today (July 19), "The journey of the Republic of Korea, which has grown from a country that received aid to one that provides aid, and further to a nation that shares the value of culture, is a success story for all humanity created through cooperation and solidarity."

Attending the opening ceremony of the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Busan, President Lee emphasized in his congratulatory speech, "Based on the cooperation and solidarity of the international community, the Republic of Korea has achieved both economic growth and a mature democracy. On that foundation, it has blossomed into a country that flourishes with brilliant culture, deeply connecting and breathing together with people around the world."

President Lee said, "World heritage is a symbol that binds humanity together, transcending borders and generations, and serves as a solid foundation for practicing peace and cooperation between nations," adding, "In the process of remembering and preserving world heritage together, the entire world can respect each other's history and further solidify mutual trust and the solidarity of the human community."

"In an era suffering from conflict and division, the value of dialogue mediated by culture is even more precious," President Lee emphasized.

Furthermore, mentioning that Baekbeom Kim Koo emphasized the 'power of culture,' President Lee said, "The spirit of the UNESCO Constitution, which states that 'the defenses of peace must be constructed in the minds of men,' points exactly to the same place as the insight of Kim Koo, who sought to realize peace through culture and lead the harmony of humanity."

He added, "It is likely no coincidence that the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is being held in the Republic of Korea this year, which marks the 150th anniversary of Baekbeom's birth," and pledged, "Based on the power of high culture, the Republic of Korea will continue to uphold Baekbeom's will by protecting humanity's precious heritage together and contributing to world peace and prosperity."

Prior to the opening ceremony, President Lee met with UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany to discuss ways to strengthen the partnership between Korea and UNESCO, according to a written briefing by Presidential Spokesperson Kang Yu-jeong.

During the meeting, President Lee expressed his gratitude by mentioning that a textbook printing plant was established with UNESCO's support during the Korean War.

He promised, "I look forward to UNESCO continuing to play a major role in many areas, and the Republic of Korea will also play its part," adding, "As a responsible contributing nation, we will actively contribute to promoting international cooperation and solving common challenges."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.