The KNCU is one of the largest and most active National Commissions among the 199 National Commissions worldwide, and makes significant contributions to decision making on UNESCO’s policies and their implementation. The KNCU also plays a leading role in promoting cooperation among National Commissions for UNESCO.
The KNCU conducts research on diverse current issues, both national and international, that are pertinent to UNESCO policies. Such research includes public discussions on UNESCO's ideals and activities with a wide range of stakeholders, so as to raise awareness of UNESCO's work. The findings of our research serve as basic reference material to assist the analysis of UNESCO's agenda, the preparation of South Korea's national strategy toward UNESCO, and the creation and implementation of action plans. Our research is conducted in cooperation with domestic specialists and other National Commissions for UNESCO.
The KNCU participates as a representative of the Republic of Korea in the meetings of UNESCO's governing bodies, which include the General Conference and the Executive Board. For every session, we analyze the main agenda, consult relevant institutions for professional input, and advise various government ministries on how different issues should be approached from the perspective of South Korea. The KNCU also contributes to UNESCO's policy-making and decision-making processes by participating in other UNESCO intergovernmental and expert meetings and assisting South Korean experts to attend the meetings.
UNESCO has an extensive network that comprises regional and sub-regional offices, Category I and II Institutes, and National Commissions. UNESCO also works closely with other UN agencies and international NGOs. As South Korea's main channel for activities related to UNESCO, the KNCU supports the diverse stakeholders within the domestic UNESCO network in implementing activities that further UNESCO's mandate, while cooperating closely with UNESCO’s regional offices in Asia-Pacific.
The Republic of Korea is among the top 10 largest donor countries in terms of voluntary contributions to UNESCO. The KNCU cooperates with UNESCO Headquarters and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to systematically manage the Republic of Korea’s voluntary contributions to UNESCO. In doing so, we hope to increase the efficiency of the Funds-in-Trust (FIT) projects financed by these contributions and raise the profile of South Korea as a key contributor--financial and otherwise--to UNESCO.
The KNCU maintains close ties with other National Commissions around the world. A prime example of this cooperation is the annual meeting the KNCU has been hosting with the UNESCO Bangkok Office since 2016. The meeting seeks to help National Commissions in the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen their capacities through networking at a regional level to share information and good practices. In 2018, the KNCU co-hosted a regional conference (the Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting of National Commissions for UNESCO) with the UNESCO Bangkok Office, in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea. In 2019, as a follow-up to the Gyeongju meeting, the KNCU organized a sub-regional conference (the 2019 East and Southeast Asia Meeting of National Commissions for UNESCO), in Jeonju, Republic of Korea. Participants identified major achievements and challenges in the implementation of the SDGs in East and Southeast Asia and discussed key issues for UNESCO at global, regional and national level, in order to propose joint projects among National Commissions in the region to address such issues.
In 2020, the KNCU came together with the National Commissions for UNESCO of Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam to work on a two-year joint project among National Commissions for UNESCO in East and Southeast Asia, aiming to build on existing cooperation to enhance mutual understanding and solidarity during the COVID-19 crisis. As a result of the first year project, in November 2020, the ten National Commissions published a Joint Research Report on National Commissions for UNESCO in East and Southeast Asia which sought to define the unique and collective identities of National Commissions in the sub-region and to identify common challenges and corresponding potential solutions. Following the first year project, in 2021, KNCU collaborated with the same National Commissions and published a Joint Case Study Report on the Futures of Education. The Joint Case Study Report identifies common needs and aspirations for the “futures of education” from the perspectives of the various Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet) communities in the sub-region, in order to contribute to UNESCO’s Futures of Education initiative. As a part of the second year project, KNCU also established a joint website which will serve as an online platform for cooperation among National Commissions for UNESCO in the sub-region during and after the COVID pandemic.
For the past 30 years, the KNCU has also been participating in a staff exchange programme with the National Commissions for UNESCO in China, Japan, and Thailand. This exchange programme seeks to enhance information sharing and networking among the different National Commissions. From 2017, this programme has been expanded to include a few National Commissions in Europe, Africa, and the Pacific region. The programme has been temporarily suspended owing to the outbreak of COVID-19.
The Republic of Korea, as is usual for UNESCO member states, maintains a Permanent Delegation to UNESCO in Paris, France, to represent its interests at UNESCO’s Headquarters. The KNCU sends a representative to the Permanent Delegation to contribute to strengthening the Republic of Korea’s UNESCO-related activities and partnership between the KNCU, UNESCO headquarters, and other relevant government ministries.
The KNCU shares information and cooperates with government ministries, local governments, Category II Institutes, UNESCO Chair/UNITWIN networks, so as to support domestic organizations in implementing UNESCO-related activities. We also assist domestic stakeholders in serving the mission and values of UNESCO through their networks and activities overseas, including participation in international conferences.