Sangju Naebanggasa Set to Join the UNESCO Memory of the World

Eighteen Sangju Museum Pieces Included in UNESCO International Register Submission

Eighteen pieces of Naebanggasa (women’s vernacular verse literature) from the Sangju Museum collection, overseen by Director Yoon Hopil, have been officially included among the Korean heritage items submitted for inscription on the UNESCO Memory of the World International Register.

Naebanggasa in the Sangju Museum Collection (Bungusohoega, Donated by Jo Yongjun)

The application, jointly organized by the National Hangeul Museum and the Korean Studies Advancement Center, entered the international review process after the official submission of the inscription documents to the UNESCO Memory of the World Secretariat on November 21, 2025.

The submission includes a total of 567 items, with 18 from the Sangju Museum. This reflects national recognition of the uniqueness and documentary heritage value of women’s vernacular literature accumulated in the Sangju region.

Naebanggasa refers to a form of vernacular literature in which Korean women, from the late 18th century to the mid-20th century, vividly recorded their realities, emotions, and social perceptions in Hangeul. Despite a restrictive social structure, these women established a tradition of communal narrative and actively continued a culture of documentation, a phenomenon considered rare on a global scale.

The 18 Naebanggasa pieces from the Sangju Museum submitted this time are regarded as authoritative sources that offer insights into the lives and consciousness of noblewomen in the Yeongnam region. Their excellent preservation further enhances their literary and historical value.

Notably, the inclusion of newly collected materials by the Sangju Museum during the inscription preparation process has broadened the scope of research. Although not part of the current submission, the museum’s collection of over 40 Naebanggasa pieces accumulated up to the late 1980s is also expected to serve as an important foundation for future domestic and international studies.

Yoon Hopil, Director of the Sangju Museum, stated, “This is the result of five years of systematic work to establish the value and lineage of these materials through our ‘Classical Documentation Project.’ We will remain steadfast in our preparations to ensure that the records of Sangju’s women are recognized not only in Korea but as part of the world’s documentary heritage with final inscription in 2027.”

The submitted application will undergo review by the UNESCO Memory of the World International Advisory Committee (IAC), with the final decision on inscription to be made at the UNESCO Executive Board meeting in France in the first half of 2027.

The records left by the women of Sangju are now knocking on the door to the world. There is growing interest in whether this culture of documentation, written in the language of daily life, will receive international recognition.

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