G-Dragon Named UNESCO World Heritage Committee Ambassador — 'Peace Through Culture and Participation'
Singer G-DRAGON is stepping up as the official ambassador for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session being held in Korea for the very first time. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced that G-Dragon has been appointed as ambassador for the '48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee,' which kicks off on the 19th in Busan. The World Heritage Committee is an international meeting that reviews UNESCO World Heritage Site nominations and checks on the conservation status of existing sites — and this is the first time it's ever been held in Korea! Influence Beyond K-Pop, and a Track Record of Giving Back The Cultural Heritage Administration gave major props to G-Dragon for his worldwide influence across culture and the arts, well beyond K-pop. What really caught their attention, though, was his public service work. Last year, G-Dragon established the public interest foundation Juspice Foundation through a copyright donation and has been serving as honorary chairperson — leading the charge on using art to tackle social issues and spread a culture of public good. A spokesperson from the Cultural Heritage Administration said, "We expect that G-Dragon and the Juspice Foundation, with their global reach, will help spark even greater attention and public participation — both at home and abroad — around the World Heritage Committee. We'll do our best to make Korea's first-ever World Heritage Committee a milestone that creates a new culture of participation in protecting world heritage." 'Justice' and 'Peace' at the Heart of the Juspice Foundation The Juspice Foundation is a public interest platform built around the core values of 'Justice' and 'Peace.' It runs a wide range of social contribution programs, including firefighter recovery programs, mental health projects, and initiatives to nurture the next generation of creative talent. The Cultural Heritage Administration noted that G-Dragon and the foundation's belief that 'small acts of participation can change the world and create peace' aligns closely with UNESCO's spirit of 'international cooperation for peace.' The 'Heritage in Peace' Campaign Launching in Busan Off the back of this appointment, the Juspice Foundation is partnering with UNESCO to officially launch a global civic participation campaign called 'Heritage in Peace' sometime in July, aimed at protecting world heritage sites. The campaign is designed around the idea that world heritage shouldn't just be safeguarded by nations and international organizations — but by citizens, businesses, and cities together. What makes this campaign especially significant is that it's the very first city campaign for the World Heritage Fund, and it's starting right here in Busan, the host city of the 48th World Heritage Committee. Donations raised through the campaign will go directly to the UNESCO World Heritage Fund, where they'll be used to protect heritage sites threatened by war, climate crisis, natural disasters, and more. "A Shared Legacy of Humanity That We Must Protect Together" As ambassador, G-Dragon will take part in campaign promotional videos and various official programs. The plan is to spread the word about the successful hosting of the World Heritage Committee while delivering the message of 'peace through culture and participation' to audiences around the world. G-Dragon's team shared, "We're incredibly honored to take on the role of ambassador for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, being held in Korea for the very first time. World heritage is a shared legacy that all of humanity must protect together, so we hope to deliver a message of peace that resonates with people everywhere and inspires them to take action."
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