First Lady Gwon Yang-suk attended the opening ceremony of the 20th General Conference of the International Council of Museums that took place at the Convention and Exhibition Center in southern Seoul. In a welcoming speech, Gwon said a nation's cultural prowess is measured by the abundance and preservation of its cultural heritage. And this is why, she voiced, we should breathe new life into museums and galleries across the nation and foster a culture-friendly social atmosphere. The First Lady also noted the succession and preservation of intangible cultural assets, which are gradually vaporizing, is an urgent matter. The six-day conference, held every three years, will draw some 2,000 curators and officials from 100 countries.