'Danwon High School 4.16 Archive' and 'Suwon Jabbang and Eumsik Dimibang' have been officially added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register for the Asia-Pacific region.
The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on November 5 that the inclusion of these records was decided at the 11th UNESCO Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Committee meeting held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The 'Danwon High School 4.16 Archive' consists of approximately 230,000 records documenting the lives of students from Danwon High School who perished in the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, as well as the public's memorial activities and the recovery efforts of victims' families and survivors. Its significance lies in its documentation of the pain and trauma of the disaster and the healing and recovery process that followed.
'Suwon Jabbang and Eumsik Dimibang' are records of traditional cooking knowledge from the Korean Peninsula. 'Suwon Jabbang' is recognized as the first cookbook used in private households, while 'Eumsik Dimibang' is acknowledged as the oldest and most complete existing Korean cookbook.
The Cultural Heritage Administration selected these records for nomination after gathering expert opinions and feedback from members of the Korean Memory of the World Committee on submissions received during a public call for records conducted from October to December 2024. The nomination application was subsequently submitted to UNESCO in September 2025.
With this inclusion, South Korea now holds a total of 28 UNESCO Memory of the World inscriptions, including the Hunminjeongeum, the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, and the Jikji, enhancing its status as a nation rich in record culture.
The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "We will continue to actively discover our record heritage and expand its inclusion in the Memory of the World Register, while widely promoting our excellent record culture both domestically and internationally."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.