An MOU Signed for the Conservation and Management of Heritage between the NRICH and the ICCROM

On June 15th,the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage(hereinafter NRICH, Director General Kim Yeonsoo) under the Cultural Heritage Administration(hereinafter CHA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the conservation and management of cultural and natural heritagewith the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property(hereinafter: ICCROM, Director General : Webber Ndoro) in Rome, Italy at theICCROMheadquarters.

ICCROM, established in Rome in 1959, is anadvisory body tothe World Heritage Committee(WHC). It serves as a research and capacity-building institution for international cooperation in the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. ICCROM operates various prestigious international capacity-building programs in the field of heritage conservation. Currently, it has 137 member countries, including the Republic of Korea.

Both institutions plan to collaborate on activities that will be mutually beneficial, with a focus on the conservation and management of cultural and natural heritage, for the next five years until 2027. These activities include jointly hosting academic research and international conferences, collaborative planning and implementation of the 'CollAsia' capacity-building program*, publishing Korean versions of ICCROMresearch results and documents, and exchanging publications and reports.

* CollAsia(Conserving Heritage Collections in Southeast Asia, a capacity-building and training program for conservation
- Objective: To promote awareness, knowledge, and skills necessary for the sustainable management of heritage artifacts, fostering continuous and positive changes in perception, knowledge, techniques, and behaviors
- Topics: traditional knowledge, scientific principles of conservation, and sustainable development.
- Target audience: personnel responsible for cultural heritage in museums, research institutes, and other relevant institutions in each participating country.

To ensure the implementation of the MOU, NRICH will promoteits accumulated resources ofresearch capabilities, scientific expertise, and human resources, since its establishment in 1969. Furthermore, it will strengthen the planning and operation of ICCROM's capacity-building programs, which are funded through the CHA's Funds in Trust(FIT). This will be an opportunity to enhance the effectiveness of CHA FIT and increase visibilityat the international level.

The expected outcomes, international academic conferences and the publication of ICCROM research results and documents in Korean, will provide an opportunity for domestic researchers and stakeholders in the field of heritage to understand international issues and share various research outcomes and interpretations presented by international organizations. Through these activities, it is expected that the influence of the CHA and NRICH will be strengthened in the international fields of cultural and natural heritage conservation and management.