'Yangju Byeolsandae Nori' Inscribed on UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List

18 Korean Talchum Types: 13 National Intangible Cultural Properties · 5 Provincial Intangible Cultural Properties

Yangju Byeolsandae Nori Act 2, Omjung and Sangjwa [Yangju City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Yangju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 8th that "at the 17th Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Morocco on the 30th of last month, 18 Korean mask dance genres (13 national intangible cultural heritages and 5 provincial intangible cultural heritages), including Yangju Byeolsandae Nori, were inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list."

According to the city, the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee highly evaluated the universal value of equality emphasized by Korean mask dances, the significance of their criticism of the caste system, and their symbolic role in the cultural identity of each region.

Yangju Byeolsandae Nori, representing mask dances of the central region, is a Korean mask play rich in spectacles, composed of dance added to musical accompaniment, along with theatrical elements such as singing, dancing, gestures, and dialogue.

It is largely divided into 8 acts and 8 scenes, and is highly regarded for its universal values of equality that concretely show the rebellious spirit against the privileged class, formality, and morality of the time, as well as its criticism of the caste system.

Mayor Kang Soo-hyun of Yangju said, "I am grateful to the Yangju Byeolsandae Nori Preservation Society and the citizens who supported the inscription of Korean mask dances, including Yangju Byeolsandae Nori, on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list," and added, "We will continue to do our best to preserve and develop Yangju Byeolsandae Nori."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.