KABUL - Officials from the United Nations (UN) and the Afghan Ministry of Information & Culture (MoIC) on Tuesday confirmed that the Bamyan Museum and Cultural Center would be fully constructed within three years with the financial backing of the South Korean government.

"Today, I am pleased to be able to announce the commitment of the government of the Republic of Korea to protecting and preserving splendid cultural heritages by working with the Ministry of Information and Culture and UNESCO to establish a cultural center in Bamyan," the South Korean Ambassador to Afghanistan Cha Youngcheol said on Tuesday.

Local officials in Bamyan province have said the construction of the museum and cultural center would a major move to preserve the immense historical and cultural heritage of the area. They also asserted that the project would have economic benefits.

"The cultural center isn't only a place for displaying the artifacts, but it will be a living center for the community Bamyan," United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) representative in Afghanistan Paolo Fontani said. "The idea is to link up to the socioeconomic and cultural development of the valley and international tourism."

Ghulam Ali Wahdat, the Governor of Bamyan, expressed hope for the museum.

"The ancient relics are now kept in a very substandard museum, so the establishment of the new museum building will help us protect the ancient relics in proper way," he said.

The republic of Koreas has pledged to provide 5.4 million USD for the project. (Tolo News)