Busan, 22 July 2026. Philippine Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, H.E. Bernadette Therese C. Fernandez called for more active engagement in next-generation cultural heritage partnerships through digital innovation and creative industries at the 8th ASEAN-ROK Working Committee Meeting on Cultural Heritage Cooperation held at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO), Busan, ROK. 

Hosted by the Korea Heritage Service (KHS) and the ASEAN Secretariat, in partnership with the UNESCO International Information and Networking Centre for Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Asia-Pacific Region (ICHCAP), the meeting gathered representatives from ASEAN member states, ROK government officials and international organizations to further strengthen information exchange and cooperation network on cultural heritage. Through this cooperation mechanism, the ROK government reaffirmed its support to fostering cooperation between ASEAN and the ROK in the promotion and preservation of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage.

Held on the sidelines of the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the meeting discussed the achievements, ongoing initiatives and strategic directions for ASEAN-ROK Cultural Heritage Cooperation to further pursue its five key priority areas including creative economy, capacity building, shared cultural heritage, digital technology and disaster risk management. 

Prior to the meeting, Ambassador Fernandez joined Ambassadors and representatives of the ASEAN Committee in Seoul in a courtesy call on KHS Commissioner Huh Min where she underscored the complementarities between the ASEAN-Korea Cultural Heritage Cooperation initiatives and the policies, priorities, and programs of the Philippines during its ASEAN Chairship 2026. END