South Korean Heritage Diplomacy
Sharing Expertise on Conservation with the World
abstract
This paper investigates the dynamic involvement of the South Korean government in international efforts to regulate the preservation and conservation of heritage, using as primary sources heritage declarations and recommendations that are placed under the aegis of the UNESCO. The paper argues that the guideline texts that have emerged from South Korea represent a form of soft diplomacy that reflects the country’s ability to voice its own concerns regarding heritage on the international scene, to participate in the global conversation on heritage by drafting recommendations that derive from South Korean conservation practices and interests.
Keywords: Soft diplomacy • UNESCO • Heritage preservation • Soft power • Heritage conservation