The Cultural Heritage Administration announced that the traditional knowledge, techniques, and cultural practices of Hanji production have received a 'recommendation for inscription' from the evaluation body of the UNESCO Intangible Heritage Committee.
The evaluation body reviewed a total of 59 applications for the representative list, recommending the inscription of Hanji production along with the other applications. Three applications were advised to provide additional information. The results of this evaluation were made public on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage website.
With the recommendation for Hanji production, it is expected to positively influence the final decision at the 21st session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which will be held in Xiamen, China, from November 30 to December 5.
Currently, South Korea has 23 items recognized as intangible cultural heritage. If Hanji production is ultimately inscribed, the total will rise to 24.
Meanwhile, North Korea's 'Traditional Martial Art of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Taekwondo' has also received a recommendation for inscription. North Korea currently has five items inscribed: 'Arirang' (2014), 'Kimchi Making' (2015), 'Ssireum' (2018, jointly inscribed with South Korea), 'Pyongyang Cold Noodles' (2022), and 'Traditional Korean Clothing Customs' (2024). If Taekwondo is inscribed, it will bring North Korea's total to six items.
Heo Min, head of the Cultural Heritage Administration, has been working with relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Unification and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to promote the joint inscription of Taekwondo. However, due to various circumstances, including inter-Korean relations, joint inscription has become practically difficult, according to the administration.
It is important to note that the UNESCO Intangible Heritage system does not grant exclusive rights to a heritage simply because it has been inscribed or applied for. The administration stated, 'We will continue to make every effort to ensure that our Taekwondo is either independently inscribed or expanded in the UNESCO Intangible Heritage representative list.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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