Strengthening Sponsorship Cooperation and Promoting Korea’s Human Heritage
On January 7, the Korean National Commission for UNESCO (KNCU), led by Acting Secretary-General Yoon Byung-soon, and Woori Bank, headed by CEO Jung Jin-wan, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen their mutual cooperation and promote Korea’s human heritage. This partnership is being established on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Kim Koo, which has been designated as a UNESCO Anniversary for 2026.
Under the partnership, the two organizations plan to leverage Woori Bank’s networks and KNCU’s expertise to increase awareness of Korea’s heritage and prominent historical figures through programs that are both highly accessible and highly informative. Woori Bank will also provide financial support for KNCU’s key projects as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts.
The initiative is expected to serve as a successful model for public-private partnerships, driving sustainable development in UNESCO’s core fields of education, science, and culture.
During the MOU signing ceremony at Woori Bank’s headquarters in Seoul, KNCU Acting Secretary-General Yoon Byung-soon remarked, “Through this partnership with Woori Bank, which has been a leader in Korea’s financial development and social contribution efforts for 127 years, we hope to raise awareness of people and heritage that embody universal human values and have brought honor to Korea. We look forward to expanding our cooperation in social contribution across UNESCO’s diverse fields of activity.”
Woori Bank CEO Jung Jin-wan added, “As a bank that has preserved the roots of national capital, it is deeply meaningful to have the opportunity to share the value of heritage with KNCU and contribute to promoting awareness of Korea’s precious cultural and human assets.”
Since 1957, UNESCO has designated “UNESCO Anniversaries” every two years to celebrate historic events or figures proposed by member states that align with the organization’s values. The 150th anniversary of Baekbeom Kim Koo’s birth has been officially designated as a UNESCO Anniversary for 2026, following in the footsteps of various other Korean anniversaries, including the 600th anniversary of Seoul as the capital (1994), the 550th anniversary of the proclamation of Hunminjeongum Manuscript (1996), the 250th anniversary of the birth of Dasan Cheong Yagyong (2012), the 400th anniversary of the publication of Donguibogam (2013), and the 200th anniversary of the birth of Father Andrew Kim Taegon (2021).