Egypt, South Korea sign cultural heritage cooperation MOU

CAIRO - 24 January 2022: A memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cultural heritage exchanges and cooperation was signed between the Korean Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) and its Egyptian counterpart, the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) at the Al Manial Palace on January 21, said the South Korean embassy in a statement on Monday.

 

The MoU is as a sideline achievement on the occasion of the Korean President Moon’s recent visit to Egypt, the embassy added.

 

The MOU stipulates future plans to cooperate in all areas of cultural heritage: conducting archaeological excavation and restoration (including underwater archaeology), fighting against the illicit trade of cultural properties, supporting in application of digital technology, official development assistance (ODA) projects, cooperation in inscribing new UNESCO World Heritage sites, and exchange of academic, human, and material resources.

 

 

The signees from the two parties, Secretary General Mr. Mostafa Waziri and Administrator Mr. Kim Hyun-mo had a meeting one day before the signing ceremony at the Karnak Temple in Luxor and discussed how to strengthen cooperation in the area of cultural heritage between two countries such as applying Korea's outstanding conservation and restoration technology of stone cultural heritage to restore the Ramesseum Temple, a World Heritage Site and digitizing and building a platform for the collection of Egypt's six important museums and research institutes like Egyptian Museum, Coptic Museum, Archaeological Research Centre, etc.

 

 

Korean Ambassador Mr. Hong Jin-wook said that he was more than pleased that the two organizations’ hard work and the Korean Embassy’s continuous support have come to fruition with the first ever MOU in this field and he would like to convey his deepest appreciation to the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, H.E. Khaled El-Anany, the former Antiquities Minister and renowned archaeologist Mr. Zahi Hawass and the SCA Secretary General, Mr. Mostafa Waziri for putting their hands together.   

 

Stressing that Egypt, the cradle of civilization, is one of the Koreans’ most favorite bucket list destinations, Ambassador Hong also mentioned that cultural heritage is a very promising area which can diversify two countries’ cooperation and enhance people-to-people mutual understanding to make our solid friendship sustainable.

 

A press release from the embassy