Around 300 National Heritage Keepers Gather in Daejeon to Share Heritage Protection Achievements

[Financial News] Citizen volunteers who care for and protect national heritage are gathering in Daejeon to share their experiences and achievements from the past year.
According to the Korea Heritage Service on the 31st, the 2026 National Heritage Keepers National Convention is being held from the 30th through today, the 31st, at the Credit Union Central Training Institute in Yuseong District, Daejeon.
The Korea Heritage Service and the Korea National Heritage Keepers Association are co-hosting the event, which is organized by Hanbat Culture Madang, the Daejeon-Sejong hub center for National Heritage Keepers. Around 300 keepers from across the country are taking part. The theme is “National Heritage: You See It When You Love It!”
The first day’s program included an opening performance by the traditional Korean music orchestra “Soyul,” a report on activity achievements, commendations for contributions, and awards for outstanding activity accounts. It also included a session in which keepers selected for their outstanding work introduced their connections with national heritage.
An exhibition of personal accounts collected under the theme “My Precious National Heritage: A Record of My Work as a National Heritage Keeper” was also organized. The accounts, which capture experiences gained in heritage protection and the value of voluntary service, will later be compiled into a collection.
On the final day of the convention, today, participants are scheduled to visit National Daejeon Cemetery to honor the sacrifices of independence activists and those who gave their lives defending the country, and to take part in an environmental cleanup by picking up litter.
Launched in 2005, the National Heritage Keepers movement involves individuals, families, organizations, adolescents and young adults voluntarily protecting heritage. Their activities include checking conservation conditions, cleaning surrounding areas, and conducting public outreach and education. As of last December, cumulative participation stood at 70,911, and 4,143 national heritage assets were covered by the activities.
Seven regional hub support centers across the country support the work of local keepers. The centers gather feedback from the field and recommend that it be reflected in policy, while also supporting cooperation and exchanges of information and personnel among local groups.
The Korea Heritage Service plans to continue supporting the keepers’ activities so that the public can take part in protecting national heritage in their daily lives.

[email protected] Jang In-seo Reporter