South Korean cities Andong and Gyeongju participate in OWHC World Congress

South Korean cities Andong and Gyeongju participated in the 18th World Heritage Cities (OWHC) World Congress held in Marrakech, Morocco, from October 26 to 29. The congress focused on the ‘New Urban Process’ (NUP), aiming to harmonize the preservation of world heritage sites with the sustainable development and livability of urban residents.

Gyeongju was elected as an OWHC board member for the 2026–2028 term. During the congress, the city presented its Hwangchon Village urban regeneration project as a model for integrating heritage preservation with community and economic revitalization.

Andong promoted its upcoming hosting of the 6th Asia-Pacific Regional Congress in October 2027. The upcoming Andong summit is expected to address challenges such as housing environment improvement, infrastructure expansion, climate change response, and sustainable tourism to ensure heritage cities remain viable places for residents to live.