Talk explores Korea’s digital approach to cultural heritage protection

The Belt and Road Strategic Research Centre (BRSRC), in collaboration with the Institute of Management and Leadership Development (IMLD), organised a talk titled Digital Solutions for Cultural Heritage Protection on 23 July 2025 at UTAR Sungai Long Campus. The talk was delivered by Prof Dr Gu Bo Kyung from Busan University of Foreign Studies, Republic of Korea. 

The talk provided an insightful overview of Korea’s digital Official Development Assistance (ODA) and its role in safeguarding cultural heritage across the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area) region. It enabled UTAR academic staff, researchers and students to gain a deeper understanding of how digital technologies can be applied in cultural heritage protection, while also exploring the relevance of such initiatives to regional development and interdisciplinary research. 

Prof Gu shared her research on how Korea has integrated advanced digital technologies into its ODA programmes to support cultural heritage protection, particularly in regions with limited resources. She highlighted the use of digital archiving, virtual reality, and documentation technologies as effective tools for heritage preservation. Supported by Korea’s strong digital infrastructure, these technologies have enabled the protection and documentation of cultural assets in areas where traditional conservation methods are often limited. 

Prof Gu also discussed the main challenges in implementing digital ODA across the BIMP-EAGA region. One key issue was the fragmented support structure among the four countries. While Indonesia and the Philippines are recognised as key partners for Korea’s ODA, Malaysia is considered a general partner, and Brunei currently does not receive ODA support from Korea. These country-specific strategies result in a lack of a unified, regional approach to cultural heritage protection. 

To address this limitation, Prof Gu proposed triangular cooperation with either Indonesia or the Philippines as a practical and strategic alternative. Such collaboration could facilitate more effective knowledge sharing, capacity building and implementation of digital tools tailored to the specific needs and partnerships of each country involved. 

The talk concluded with a discussion on potential improvements and future directions for Korea’s digital ODA, including the importance of stakeholder engagement, regional coordination, and sustained investment in digital infrastructure to enhance the long-term impact of cultural heritage initiatives. 

The talk ended with an engaging Q&A session, followed by the presentation of a token of appreciation to Prof Gu as a gesture of gratitude for her insightful sharing.