History

The Korean National Commission for UNESCO is a proactive leader in creating a better future.

By adapting its projects to the challenges of the times, KNCU has always sought to create a better future by addressing the fundamental causes rather than just the symptoms of problems

1950s - 1960s

In the midst of the devastation following the Korean War, KNCU helped lay the foundation for the future development of education, science, culture, and communication in the Republic of Korea

1950

Korea’s admission to UNESCO

On 14 June 1950, at the 5th Session of the General Conference of UNESCO, the Republic of Korea (Korea) joined UNESCO as the Organization’s 55th Member State. Korea’s admission to UNESCO occurred well before its admission to the United Nations in 1991, making UNESCO the first door Korea knocked on in seeking to participate in the international community. Unfortunately, only 11 days after joining UNESCO, the Korean War broke out, but even in the midst of this terrible war, the Korean government pushed ahead with plans to establish Korea’s National Commission in order to facilitate UNESCO activities in Korea. Thanks to these efforts, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO (KNCU) was officially founded in 1954.

UNESCO was one of the first international organizations to extend a helping hand to Korea in the aftermath of the war. UNESCO’s educational support, aimed at achieving the goal of building peace, became a significant stepping stone for Korea in overcoming the destruction of the war and re-establishing its educational system.

1954

Inaugural Meeting of KNCU

In July 1953, the establishment of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO was proclaimed by Presidential Decree No. 801, and on 30 January 1954 the inaugural meeting of the Korean National Commission for UNESCO was held in the auditorium of Seoul National University, marking the official first step of UNESCO activities in Korea. 60 experts representing the fields of education, science, and culture in Korea participated in the meeting as founding members. Kim Beop-rin, then Minister of Education, was appointed as the first Chairman, and Dr. Jung Dae-wee was appointed as the first Secretary-General.

National Textbook Printing Plant

As part of aid for educational reconstruction immediately after the Korean War, UNESCO provided $100,000 and the United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency (UNKRA) provided $140,000 to establish the Dae Han Mun Gyo Seo Jeok Printing Plant (later the National Textbook Printing Plant) in 1954. This enabled the smooth supply of textbooks to elementary school students in Korea despite the devastation of the war.

1961

Joining the UNESCO Coupons Programme

1965

Joining the UNESCO Coupons Programme

UNESCO Coupons were an international currency created by UNESCO to facilitate international understanding and exchange, allowing countries that could not freely use foreign currencies to purchase foreign books and scientific equipment more easily with their own currency. Korea joined this system in 1961 and actively utilized UNESCO Coupons as a means to foster national development until the 1980s. From the 1990s, following Korea’s economic growth and the liberalization of foreign exchange transactions, the need for these coupons gradually diminished.

1970s - 1980s

The Korean National Commission for UNESCO introduced the concept of lifelong education to Korean society at a time when school education was considered the entirety of education. With an eye on the longer-term future, KNCU also made proposals for national development that considered both humans and the environment at a time when the national focus was solely on economic growth.

1970

Introduction of the Concept of Lifelong Education in Korea

Moving away from the traditional mindset that limited education to schools, the concept of ‘lifelong education’ aims to situate education within the entire life process. The concept is one of the most important educational ideas that UNESCO has promoted and disseminated around the world. The Korean National Commission for UNESCO played a central role in introducing the concept of lifelong education to Korea in 1970. In 1972, it began collecting, translating, and distributing lifelong education materials from UNESCO Headquarters, and in 1973, KNCU sparked discussions within Korea’s educational and academic communities by holding the First Seminar for the Development of Lifelong Education. Following this, the concept of lifelong education spread widely across all sectors of society, and in 1980, the Republic of Korea became the first country in the world to stipulate the promotion of lifelong education in its Constitution. In 1999, the enactment of the Lifelong Education Act marked a significant milestone on the road toward an ‘education society.’

1974

Pan-National Student March

In 1974, more than 1,500 university students from across the country took part in the Pan-National Student March, a two-week journey designed to foster the students’ love for the land and understanding of local communities as they traveled to every corner of the nation. The participating students were primarily members of the Korea UNESCO Student Association (KUSA).

1990s - 2000s

Keeping pace with Korea's active exchanges with the world and growing role in the international community, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO established a solid foundation for mutual understanding and coexistence through engagement with people of diverse cultures and generations in a wide variety of countries.

1990

Korea Youth Volunteers

In 1989, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO made a proposal to the government for the dispatch of a Youth Volunteer Corps abroad. As the agency designated to manage the project, in October 1990, KNCU sent the first cohort of 48 members of the Korea Youth Volunteers to four countries: the Philippines, Indonesia, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. These volunteers engaged in various fields such as healthcare, vocational education, and community development. The programme was transferred to the newly established Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in 1991 as part of government policy and continues under the name ‘KOICA World Friends Korea’.

1998

Cross Cultural Awareness Programme (CCPA)

The Cross Cultural Awareness Programme promotes Education for International Understanding by arranging for foreigners residing in Korea to visit domestic elementary, middle, and high schools to introduce their own country’s culture, history, lifestyle, and customs. The programme was started by KNCU in 1998 with 35 schools and now includes over 90 schools annually. Cumulatively, more than 30,000 students have participated in the programme, which has been run by the Korean National Federation of UNESCO Clubs and Associations (KNFUCA) since 2013.

2001

UNESCO Korea-Japan Teachers’ Dialogue

The UNESCO Korea-Japan Teachers’ Dialogue is an exchange programme for Korean and Japanese teachers. It began in 2000 when Nakasone Hirofumi, then Japanese Minister of Education, visited Korea and proposed a teacher exchange to Myong-Yong Lin, former Korean Minister of Education, to promote relations between Korea and Japan. Since 2001, over 3,100 teachers from both countries have participated, giving them the opportunity to experience each other’s educational environments and cultures, develop their mutual understanding and actively promote a culture of peace in their respective educational fields.

2009

UNESCO Memory of the World Training Workshop

KNCU initiated the annual UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) Training Workshop in 2009, to promote the preservation of a diverse range of documentary heritage of world significance by encouraging the registration of such heritage on the UNESCO Memory of the World International Register. The workshops are aimed at countries whose documentary heritage is underrepresented on the register and aim to assist these countries in preparing nominations to the register with advice from international experts on the MoW Programme. The workshops also offer opportunities for networking and the sharing of best practices in the field of documentary heritage.

2010s - 2020s

As issues such as the climate crisis and increasing social inequality lead to growing concern about the sustainability of human society, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO is bringing together the people and resources of our society to work towards a better, more sustainable future

2010

Launch of the BRIDGE Programme

Over 780 million adults worldwide are illiterate, and 240 million children are out of school, highlighting the significant educational gaps that the international community must work together to bridge. The Korean National Commission for UNESCO launched the BRIDGE Programme in 2010 and continues to implement it today to promote inclusive education for all, expand opportunities for education in marginalized communities, and transform lives and the world through education. This programme provides learning opportunities to those lacking access to formal education in developing countries, and helps education officials in partner countries to strengthen their capacities to develop and implement non-formal education policies. As a bridge to opportunities for people marginalized from education, the BRIDGE Programme contributes to the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education.

2009

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED)

The Korean National Commission for UNESCO supports educational activities and facilitates discussions to promote Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED) in order to help build a world in which all humans can live harmoniously, with each other and with the environment. Focusing on UNESCO networks such as UNESCO ASPnet schools and UNESCO lifelong learning cities, KNCU disseminates examples of best practice, and since 2009 has been operating the Korean National Committee on Education for Sustainable Development in cooperation with the government, and other relevant institutions and experts. In 2024, KNCU is publishing materials and holding a colloquium to raise awareness in Korea of the revised 2023 Recommendation on Education for Peace, Human Rights, International Understanding, Cooperation, Fundamental Freedoms, Global Citizenship, and Sustainable Development, and to promote the implementation of Korea’s Education for Sustainable Development 2030 National Initiative.

2014

Commencement of Private Donations for UNESCO Activities

When the Republic of Korea was pouring all its efforts into reconstruction in the aftermath of the Korean War, UNESCO supported it with textbooks instead of food aid, looking to the longer-term future. Following Korea’s growth into a developed country, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO began an initiative in 2014 to encourage individuals and private-sector companies to donate funds to help others in need by sponsoring educational projects to spread the power of learning and dreams of a better life. On the occasion of its 70th anniversary in 2024, KNCU is expanding the focus areas of these privately-funded activities into three main directions: coping with future changes, closing educational gaps, and resolving social and cultural conflicts.

2017

Education 2030

Goal 4 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focuses on quality education and lifelong learning for all. The Korean National Commission for UNESCO collaborates with the Ministry of Education, the national coordinator for SDG4, and other relevant agencies to manage the national coordination mechanism for work towards SDG4-Education 2030. Through this mechanism, KNCU reviews the progress towards Korea’s achievement of SDG4 and educational transformation, analyzes challenges in making such progress, conducts research, and disseminates information so that Korea can take appropriate action from the perspective of SDG4 to address domestic and international issues concerning educational gaps.