On August 5th, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (Director General Lim Jong-deock; hereafter, NRICH), affiliated with the Korea Heritage Service (hereafter, KHS), held a commemorative event marking the 20th anniversary of the Asia Cooperation Program on Conservation Science (hereafter, ACPCS) at the Cultural Heritage Conservation Science Center in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon.

* ACPCS (Asia Cooperation Program on Conservation Science): A program that invites cultural heritage professionals from Asian countries to Korea for training in various fields including conservation science, archaeology, architecture, and safety and disaster prevention, aimed at enhancing their preservation capabilities


Established in 2005, this program is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and is the longest-running initiative in Korea to strengthen the conservation capabilities of overseas cultural heritage professionals.

To mark ACPCS’s 20th anniversary, a commemorative publication was released, and the event was live-streamed on YouTube and Zoom. Alongside this, the NRICH also held a ceremony to announce its vision for international exchange. The NRICH shared and discussed its mid- and long-term vision for international exchange: “Enhance the value of K-Heritage and contribute to the international community by diversifying international cooperation efforts.”Along with the vision, three core values were presented: Research and Analysis for Future Challenges, Cooperation in the Preservation of World Heritage, and Strengthening the Global Recognition of K-Heritage.

Beginning next year, ACPCS plans to expand beneficiary countries from Asian countries to the global stage, in line with the mid- and long-term vision for international cooperation. It aims to make a significant contribution to the preservation of world heritage, while gradually increasing the number of participants and extending training periods. The program will be renamed ICPC next year.

*ICPC (International Cooperation Program of Conservation): The new name for ACPCS