The National Heritage Agency has proposed a budget of 1.66 trillion won for 2027, an increase of 11.2% from the previous year. The budget aims to enhance investments in the preservation and safety management of national heritage while expanding tourism, local revitalization, and international exchanges utilizing these assets.
According to the National Heritage Agency, the largest allocation of 691 billion won is designated for the restoration and maintenance of national heritage. Following this, 147.2 billion won is earmarked for the preservation and utilization of palaces and royal tombs, 131.2 billion won for the use of national heritage, 126.6 billion won for education, research, and exhibitions, 100.2 billion won for disaster response related to national heritage, and 62.7 billion won for world heritage and international exchanges.
A notable new initiative is the 'Cultural Heritage Stay' program, which will invest 6.1 billion won to allow visitors to experience cultural heritage by staying in designated traditional houses. The plan includes upgrading accommodation facilities at ten designated houses and establishing a unified brand and service standards. Additionally, content will be developed to connect these stays with surrounding national heritage sites, aiming to create high-quality tourism destinations.
The agency will also allocate 1.5 billion won for the 'Cultural Heritage Rest Project,' which aims to utilize historical sites and natural environments as relaxation spaces for the public. This project will create leisure areas in five locations across the country that integrate national heritage with nature.
Other budget allocations include 1 billion won for the regeneration of heritage-based attractions, 1.7 billion won for promoting the 'K-Cultural Tourism Brand' utilizing historic trails, and 1 billion won for revitalizing traditional folk villages. An additional 1 billion won will be invested in establishing an intelligent disaster response system for national heritage using physical AI and robotics.
The budget for the preservation and safety management of national heritage has also seen significant increases. The restoration budget has risen to 520.1 billion won, an increase of 84.8 billion won from the previous year. The budget for building preservation foundations has increased by 35.1 billion won to 170.9 billion won, and disaster safety management has risen by 3.7 billion won to 35.3 billion won. The budget for the establishment of a representative product hall at Gyeongbokgung Palace has been increased by 10.2 billion won to 11 billion won.
Efforts will also be made to strengthen support for the relatively underfunded areas of natural and intangible heritage. This includes 3.3 billion won for the construction of the National Natural Heritage Center, 16 billion won for a branch of the National Intangible Heritage Center, and 16.6 billion won for the establishment of a Children's Intangible Heritage Center.
Projects aimed at expanding access to national heritage opportunities, which are currently concentrated in the metropolitan area, will also be pursued. This includes 9.9 billion won for a national heritage visitation campaign, 20 billion won for the maintenance of historical and cultural zones, and 8.2 billion won for the development of historic cities. Additional funding includes 1.5 billion won for regional exhibitions of royal heritage and 7 billion won for national heritage education for socially vulnerable groups.
International projects aimed at utilizing national heritage as a national brand resource will also be expanded, with 10.1 billion won allocated for the establishment of a UNESCO World Heritage International Interpretation Center and 9.1 billion won for cultural heritage development cooperation (ODA).
The budget proposal will undergo review and approval by the National Assembly before being finalized.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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