Jongga Culture Opens Its First Door Toward UNESCO

The Archetype of Korean Humanistic Spirit:
The Strategy for Entering the World Intangible Heritage Begins

The Jongga culture, regarded as the essence of Korean traditional culture, is finally embarking on a full-fledged journey toward inscription as a UNESCO World Intangible Heritage. On November 28, the Korean Studies Advancement Center (President: Chung Jongseop) will host the "2025 Jongga Culture Intangible Cultural Heritage Inscription Promotion Academic Conference" at the Humanities Spirit Training Institute, where the international scalability and inscription strategies for Jongga culture will be systematically discussed.

The archetype of Korean humanistic spirit, the strategy to enter the "World Intangible Heritage" has begun. Photo by Kwon Byunggun

Held under the theme "Jongga Culture: From Local Heritage to World Heritage," this event is evaluated as a practical starting point for developing Korean humanistic spirit into a cultural asset that can be shared globally.

Going beyond the depth of tradition, Jongga culture represents the archetype of Korean humanistic spirit, which has practiced order and harmony in the community for centuries based on courtesy and virtue.

The way of life that permeates all aspects of daily existence-including ancestral rites, filial piety, etiquette, and food culture-embodies the universal human values of harmony and coexistence, offering meaningful alternatives to the issues of community disintegration and human alienation faced by modern society.

This year, the Korean Studies Advancement Center will focus on highlighting the potential and strategies for developing Jongga culture’s spiritual and cultural depth into a "global intangible cultural asset" that can be shared with the international community through its academic conference.

◆ Gathering of Intangible Heritage Experts... Assessing the Feasibility of Inscription

The academic conference will bring together a wide range of experts, including UNESCO inscription practitioners, traditional culture researchers, and cultural policy planners, to conduct a multi-layered analysis of the value of Jongga culture and the requirements for inscription.

Presentations will include: ▲ "Characteristics and Value of Jongga Culture" by Kim Miyoung (Korean Studies Advancement Center); ▲ "The Essential Meaning, Contemporary Relevance, and Future Prospects of Jongga Culture" by Lee Chieok (Kongju National University); and ▲ "UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Inscription Procedures and the Possibility of Jongga Culture’s Inscription" by Park Wonmo (UNESCO Asia-Pacific Intangible Heritage Center). These presentations will provide a realistic analysis of the international evaluation structure and inscription requirements for Jongga culture.

Following the presentations, experts including Kwon Gidae, Jeon Seonggeon, Lee Gilbae, Jeong Gyuyoun, and Kwon Dohyeon will participate as panelists to engage in in-depth discussions on ▲ the effectiveness of policies for inscription ▲ securing community subjectivity ▲ and the possibility of international recognition.

The comprehensive discussion will be chaired by Sim Seunggu, a professor at Korea National Sport University, who will present concrete execution strategies focusing on the "globalization strategy for Jongga culture and the UNESCO inscription roadmap."

17 Years of the Jongga Forum: Taking on the Challenge of World Intangible Heritage Since its inception in 2009, the Jongga Forum marks its 17th session this year, serving as a leading academic platform that has continuously highlighted the contemporary value and social scalability of Jongga culture.

In particular, Jongga culture has recently attracted increasing international attention not just as a means of preserving tradition, but as a spiritual and cultural asset to be shared globally, heightening the need for international discourse.

Going forward, the Korean Studies Advancement Center plans to promote the documentation of Jongga culture, establish a digital archive, and regularize international joint forums, while simultaneously conducting foundational research and policy strategies for UNESCO inscription.

◆ "Jongga Culture, the Source of Korean Humanistic Spirit... Now Is the Time to Share with the World"

Chung Jongseop, President of the Korean Studies Advancement Center, emphasized, "Jongga culture is a way of moral life for Koreans that has been passed down through generations and is the root of the Korean humanistic spirit. I hope this academic conference will serve as an international starting point to redefine the value of Jongga culture in a modern context and share its spirit with the world."

Whether Korea’s Jongga culture will open the door to the World Intangible Heritage will begin to unfold at the academic conference on November 28.

Korean Studies Advancement Center 2025 Jongga Culture Academic Conference Poster

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