G-Dragon Appointed as UNESCO World Heritage Committee Ambassador

G-Dragon has been appointed as the ambassador for the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. On the 9th, the National Heritage Administration officially named him as the ambassador for the committee meeting, which will take place from July 19 to 29 at Busan’s BEXCO.

This session of the committee holds great significance for South Korea. It is the first time an international conference of this kind has been held in the country since joining the UNESCO World Heritage Convention 38 years ago. The World Heritage Committee, UNESCO’s highest decision-making body responsible for discussing matters such as the listing, preservation, and protection of world heritage sites, will be visiting South Korea. Delegations from governments around the world and experts in cultural heritage are expected to attend to discuss the future of world heritage and strategies for its conservation.

G-Dragon is an artist who has exerted global influence not only in K-POP but also across various fields of culture and art. The National Heritage Administration determined that G-Dragon’s and his founded Justice Foundation’s philosophy—that “small actions can change the world and create peace”—aligns with UNESCO’s vision of international cooperation for peace. In 2024, G-Dragon established the non-profit Justice Foundation through copyright donations and currently serves as its honorary chairman. Based on the philosophy of “Justice” and “Peace,” the Justice Foundation functions as a public service platform that uses art and creativity to address social issues. It carries out various community outreach projects, including firefighter recovery programs, mental health initiatives, and efforts to nurture creative talents for future generations.

During the event, the Justice Foundation founded by G-Dragon will launch a World Heritage Fund campaign titled “Heritage in Peace.” This campaign aims to promote world heritage protection as a cultural practice involving citizens and businesses and to raise awareness about the value of the UNESCO World Heritage Fund. The Justice Foundation plans to officially introduce the “Heritage in Peace” campaign on July 10th.

Meanwhile, the walnut cookies produced by the confectionery company Buchang Confectionery have been selected as the official dessert for the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session. Buchang Confectionery will operate a pop-up store alongside Justice at the South Korea Pavilion (K-Heritage House) set up during the event. At this pop-up, various Korean desserts, including Buchang Confectionery’s signature products, will be prepared on-site and offered to foreign delegations and visitors.

These walnut cookies are the core product of the “Love & Peace” project jointly carried out by the Justice Foundation and Buchang Confectionery. Since their first appearance at G-Dragon’s fan meeting, they have become so popular that they sell out at every pop-up store.

A representative from Buchang Confectionery said, “We feel deeply honored to participate as an official partner in the first UNESCO World Heritage Committee session held in South Korea.” They added, “We hope this meaningful project will help introduce Korea’s dessert culture and the competitiveness of K-food to delegations from around the world, while also spreading the value of world heritage protection together with the Justice Foundation.” The donations collected through this campaign will be given to the UNESCO World Heritage Fund to support the preservation of world heritage sites threatened by war, climate crises, and natural disasters.