Korea to help preserve Peru's Machu Picchu under new cultural heritage agreement

Korea will support the preservation and sustainable management of Peru's Machu Picchu, one of the world's most iconic archaeological sites, under a new cultural heritage agreement signed between the two countries. The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) announced Friday it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Peru's Ministry of Culture to expand bilateral cooperation in the field of cultural heritage. The agreement centers on a joint official development assistance project being pushed by the two nations to conserve the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Under the project, the two countries plan to develop an integrated system for preserving and utilizing the site, including safety assessments, structural damage prevention, digital archiving of cultural assets and restoration efforts. The project is slated to begin in 2026, pending final approval from Korea's inter-agency consultation committee for grant aid programs. It will be implemented by the Korea Heritage Agency. Machu Picchu, a 15th-century Inca citadel located in the A