SEOUL, July 03 (AJP) - G-Dragon of K-pop boy band BIGBANG has been named promotional ambassador for the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, set to open in Busan on July 19, Korea Heritage Service said Friday.
It will be the first time Korea has hosted a session of the UNESCO body, which reviews the conservation of World Heritage sites and decides on additions to the World Heritage List.
Ahead of the session, the JUSPEACE Foundation, founded by G-Dragon, will launch a public campaign called "Heritage in Peace" on July 10 in partnership with UNESCO.
The campaign is aimed at raising awareness of World Heritage protection and encouraging voluntary donations to the UNESCO World Heritage Fund. The agency said it is meant to build a model linking citizens, companies and host cities in heritage conservation efforts, with proceeds going toward protecting sites threatened by war, climate change and natural disasters.
The Korea Heritage Service said G-Dragon was chosen for his global profile and for his charitable work through JUSPEACE, which he established in 2024 through copyright donations. He serves as the foundation's honorary chair.
The foundation runs programs built around the ideas of justice and peace, including recovery support for firefighters, mental health initiatives and efforts to nurture creative talent among younger generations. The agency said the work reflects UNESCO's broader mission of promoting international cooperation for peace.
As ambassador, G-Dragon will appear in campaign videos and take part in on-site events during the committee session, delivering what organizers describe as a message of peace through culture and public participation.
"World Heritage sites are shared assets that belong to all humanity," a representative for G-Dragon said, adding that the artist hopes to share a message of peace that people can understand and act on.
The Korea Heritage Service said it expects G-Dragon and the JUSPEACE Foundation to draw wider attention to the Busan session and expand public participation in World Heritage protection.
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