President Lee Hosts Dinner with UNESCO Delegation: "It Is Culture, Not Guns or Swords, That Leads Humanity"

Emphasizing the Power of Culture at the World Heritage Committee Dinner
UNESCO Director-General: "Over 3,000 Registered Participants, Largest in History"
Cultural Heritage Diplomacy: With Nakseonjae Patterns, Busan Ingredients, and Munbaeju

On July 19, President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the importance of international solidarity and the preservation of world heritage through the power of culture, stating, "It is ultimately culture—not guns and swords—that leads humanity."

President Lee Jae-myung is delivering a greeting speech at the VIP dinner of the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Busan on the 19th. 2026.7.19 Yonhap News Agency

At the VIP dinner held for the opening ceremony of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan that day, President Lee said, "I pay tribute to your efforts to protect the world’s cultural heritage." He was accompanied by his wife Kim Hye-kyung, UNESCO Director-General Khaled El Enany, Teresa Patrício, President of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), and representatives of the World Heritage Committee member states, for a dinner with more than 50 domestic and international guests.

President Lee said, "Together with the people of the Republic of Korea, I sincerely welcome you," and added, "Once again, I welcome the convening of the World Heritage Committee in Korea, a country proud of its rich culture." He also told the guests, "After the dinner, I hope you enjoy the night view of Busan, Korea."

Director-General El Enany said that registration for this session surpassed 3,000 people, noting, "We are about to host the largest event in the history of the World Heritage Committee." He added, "I am deeply grateful that Korea is with us in jointly preserving heritage and safeguarding it as a living memory for future generations." He also remarked that Korea and UNESCO have maintained a strong partnership for the past 76 years and expressed appreciation for the hospitality and support provided by the Korean government and people.

Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo introduced Busan in his toast as "the last bastion that protected the nation in the pain of the Korean War, and the wartime capital." Mayor Jeon expressed his hopes for a successful committee session, saying, "Today, Busan is attracting global attention as a city that welcomes tourists from all around the world year-round."

The dinner was more than a formal diplomatic event; it became an arena for cultural diplomacy, bringing together Korean cultural heritage and regional identity through the space and cuisine. The banquet hall was designed with traditional patterns and colors reminiscent of Nakseonjae at Changdeokgung, which was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997, and featured gold leaf-shaped napkin rings, celadon tableware, and paper decorated with Hangeul (Hunminjeongeum) motifs.

The theme of the dinner was "Land of Busan, Table of Korea." With this in mind, Korean traditional culinary techniques were used to prepare ingredients grown in Busan’s natural environment. The dinner began with a starter of shredded ginseng, prickly pear, and black sesame chips, followed by appetizers such as Daejeo tomatoes, seafood cold salad, and mil-ssam (wheat wraps). Additional dishes included pumpkin tarakjuk (milk porridge), grilled golden tilefish, Dongnae pajeon (scallion pancake), and japchae wrapped in lotus leaf.

President Lee Jae-myung and UNESCO Director-General Khaled El Enany are toasting at the VIP dinner of the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee held in Busan on July 19, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The main course featured braised Gimhae Korean beef short ribs in aged soy sauce, colorful vegetable rolls, and meatball soup. For dessert, seasonal fruits, omija seolhwa-pyeon (schisandra flower-shaped rice cake), and buckwheat tea were served. The toasting liquor was Munbaeju, a National Intangible Cultural Heritage spirit. Munbaeju is a traditional liquor named for its aroma, said to resemble wild pears from the Munbae tree, and is believed to have been produced since the Goryeo dynasty.

The dinner continued for more than an hour. Kang Yoo-jung, Chief Presidential Spokesperson, conveyed that President Lee concluded by expressing his hope that the time spent in Busan would leave guests with lasting inspiration and memories, and wished for the success of the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.