UNESCO Young World Heritage Experts Captivated by Charm of Suwon Hwaseong

[Suwon Ilbo=Staff Reporter Jung Jun-sung] On the 15th, Suwon Special City operated the 'Overseas Young World Heritage Expert Tour Program,' an official pre-event for the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee, in the Suwon Hwaseong and Haenggung-dong areas.

As part of the 'World Heritage Young Expert Forum,' the tour was attended by approximately 40 people including Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun, Ines Yuspi, Project Officer at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, and Seo Hyun-suk, Director of the Intellectual Solidarity Division at UNESCO Korea Commission.

The 32 overseas young experts who participated in the tour were selected through competitive pre-recruitment by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (Paris), winning out among 1,733 applicants. Since the 13th, they have been touring Seoul, Suwon, Gyeongju, and Busan engaging in cultural exchanges and conducting capacity-building workshops.

Participants toured the Hwaseong Fortress walls and Hwaseong Palace, and rode the Suwon Hwaseong Royal Guard Procession to experience Joseon Dynasty history and culture. They also experienced diverse Korean traditional culture including traditional refreshments, theatrical performances by resident actors, and traditional music performances.

A communication forum was also arranged. Participants attended a forum titled 'Cases of Suwon Hwaseong Conservation and Utilization with the Local Community,' where they communicated with local residents and learned about Suwon's unique world heritage cases that coexist with citizens' lives beyond the relics. 'Hwaseong Taepyeongseongdae' is a representative program utilizing Hwaseong Fortress, currently operated with support from UNESCO Korea Commission in 2025.

Meanwhile, the city plans to operate a 'Special Suwon Tour Program' for one night and two days from the 29th to 30th, accepting advance applications from experts attending the UNESCO World Heritage Committee opening on the 19th at BEXCO in Busan. Through the tour program, the city plans to continue expanding its global exchange network with world heritage experts.

Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun, who shared tea with participants at Namsuheon, stated, "World heritage Suwon Hwaseong is an excellent exemplary case that has continuously developed together with the local community," and added, "I hope this tour becomes a meaningful opportunity for global young experts to newly recognize the value of Suwon and reflect on the significance of world heritage conservation and utilization."