Tehran, Seoul agree on heritage, tourism cooperation roadmap
Iran and South Korea agreed on Friday to expand cooperation in cultural heritage, tourism, handicrafts and creative industries during talks between their culture ministers on the sidelines of the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
Meeting South Korean Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Chae Hwi-young in Seoul, Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Reza Salehi-Amiri proposed a comprehensive roadmap covering cultural exchanges, smart tourism, digital museums, heritage conservation, creative industries and joint exhibitions, CHTN reported.
The two sides also agreed to pursue reciprocal tourism and handicrafts exhibitions, expand people-to-people exchanges and encourage cooperation among artists, scholars and content creators.
"Our civilizations share deep historical roots, and those commonalities can serve as the foundation for lasting cooperation," Salehi-Amiri said. "Culture is the strongest bridge between nations."
The meeting coincided with Iran's campaign to have the Alamut Castle and Associated Fortresses inscribed as the country's 30th UNESCO World Heritage site when the committee reviews the nomination.
Salehi-Amiri said the inscription would strengthen international recognition of Iran's cultural legacy while supporting heritage preservation and inbound tourism.
South Korea, which has built globally recognized creative industries spanning film, television, music and digital content, offers valuable experience that Iran hopes to draw upon, the minister said, inviting Seoul to deepen cooperation in creative industries, artificial intelligence, digital archives, museum technologies and sports tourism.
The two ministers also discussed drafting a comprehensive memorandum of understanding and agreed to maintain follow-up consultations. Salehi-Amiri invited his South Korean counterpart to visit Tehran and participate in future cultural and tourism events.
As part of his visit, Salehi-Amiri also held talks at the Korea National University of Heritage (KNUH), where he proposed establishing a joint academic working group and launching faculty and student exchanges focused on archaeology, monument restoration, World Heritage management, intangible cultural heritage and advanced conservation technologies.
"Iran and South Korea can become a model for academic cooperation in cultural heritage across Asia," he said, calling for closer collaboration in training specialists and transferring conservation expertise.
Deputy Cultural Heritage Minister Ali Darabi said South Korea's postwar experience in restoring historical monuments could provide valuable expertise for Iran's restoration programs after 149 historical sites were damaged during recent US and Israeli military attacks. He also proposed joint research on digital heritage, underwater archaeology, artificial intelligence and museum cooperation.
Korea National University of Heritage President Kang Kyung-hwan welcomed the proposals, describing Iran as home to "one of humanity's oldest and richest civilizations" and saying expanded exchanges of academics and researchers could "open a new chapter" in scientific and cultural cooperation between the two countries.