SEOUL, July 25 (Yonhap) -- More than 52,000 people have visited a large-scale pavilion built to showcase South Korea's heritage, to mark the country's first hosting of a UNESCO World Heritage Committee session under way in the southeastern city of Busan, data showed Saturday.
As of Friday, a total of 52,758 people had visited the "K-Heritage House" set up at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center where the 48th session of the committee is taking place from July 20-29, according to the data from the Korea Heritage Service.
Dozens of institutions, including government bodies, local authorities and Buddhist organizations, took part in organizing the pavilion, which provides exhibitions, performances and hands-on programs for delegates and visitors.
Among the installed booths are those that promote heritage sites and candidates on UNESCO's tentative list. These include the Gaya Tumuli, a group of ancient burial mounds; the Getbol Korean Tidal Flats, a vast expanse of biodiverse wetlands; the Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream, featuring prehistoric rock carvings; and the Sansa, or Buddhist mountain monasteries of Korea.
The living heritage section features performances and craft demonstrations by designated masters of national intangible heritage. Fourteen artisans are taking part in joint presentations of 11 traditional skills, including "gat" (traditional hat) making.
As of 6 p.m. Thursday, a record 3,111 people from 162 countries had registered to take part in the UNESCO session.
This July 22, 2026, photo shows a traditional performance reenacting a royal promenade taking place at the "K-Heritage House" at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center in the southeastern city of Busan. (Yonhap)