Seoul, South Korea – The South Korean government has allocated a record budget of 1.3875 trillion won (approximately US$1.04 billion) for the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage in 2025, a 1.6% increase from the previous year.

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on Tuesday that the increased funding will be used to launch various new initiatives aimed at discovering and promoting the value of the nation's cultural heritage.

"With the establishment of a new national heritage system this year after 60 years, we have decided to discover various projects to enhance the value of national heritage and contribute to the national economy and local communities, and have reflected them in the budget," said an official from the Cultural Heritage Administration.

The budget breakdown shows that 1.244 trillion won will be allocated to general accounts and special accounts for balanced regional development, a 3.1% increase from the previous year. The funds will be distributed among various areas, including cultural heritage restoration (529.9 billion won), cultural heritage policy (277 billion won), royal tomb management (1.431 billion won), cultural assets (1.332 billion won), education, research, and exhibitions (1.149 billion won), and natural and intangible heritage (669 billion won).

Focus on Future Heritage The increased budget will be used to fund various national projects, including the restoration of national heritage (126 billion won), the digital database construction of the Tripitaka Koreana, a UNESCO World Heritage and National Treasure (87 billion won), the preservation and fostering of ancient capital cities with rich history and culture (49 billion Jongmyo Shrine, which will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its UNESCO inscription next year, and the modernization of buried cultural heritage information (30 billion won).

New projects include the preservation and utilization of geological heritage (23 billion won), the protection of natural monuments and flora and fauna (19 billion won), the preservation of scenic beauty and traditional landscaping (12 billion won), and the operation of the National Natural Heritage Center Promotion Team (4 billion won).

To enhance social and international value and revitalize local communities, the government will undertake projects such as inclusive cultural heritage education for the socially disadvantaged (10 billion won), the production of promotional videos for national heritage (8 billion won), the improvement of national heritage system transition signage (9 billion won), support for the UNESCO Intangible Heritage Trust Fund (10 billion won), the construction of an international interpretation center for World Heritage sites (18 billion won), the construction of a large-scale underwater artifact dedicated open storage facility (10 billion won), and a survey of Korean cultural heritage in Europe, including the National Library of France (5 billion won).

These initiatives are aimed at promoting K-Heritage and expanding the reach of South Korea's rich cultural heritage worldwide.

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