Interpretation and Presentation of Contested Heritage towards Truth and Peace-building

The seminar addressed the issue of heritage sites related to wars and conflicts and how they serve as spaces for the peaceful coexistence of multiple or competing memories by amplifying marginalized voices and promoting truth-telling. The goal of the seminar was to gather the best practices of heritage interpretation and presentation on various human rights issues during wars and conflicts. It aimed to encourage contributions from, and cooperation among various actors including the experts, institutions, and civil society, working to make known the negative aspects of contested heritage. Through various conversations and presentations, the seminar sought to expand the understanding of future generations on the controversial nature of heritage history and the importance of finding the full history for peacebuilding.

The seminar was organised by Institute of International Studies at Seoul National University (SNU), King’s College London- Department of Classics (KCL), ICOMOS-ICIP (International Scientific Committee on Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites), and Our World Heritage. Sponsorship was provided by the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC).