'Munhwajae' to be renamed 'Gukgayusan' starting May next year

The legal basis for changing the term and classification system of 'Munhwajae (文化財, Cultural Properties)' to 'Gukgayusan (國家遺産, National Heritage)' has been established.

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The Cultural Heritage Administration announced that the bill for the 'National Heritage Basic Act' passed the National Assembly plenary session on the 27th. The National Heritage Basic Act contains the foundation for changing the system based on the Cultural Heritage Protection Act, which was enacted in 1962 and maintained for 60 years.

The existing term 'Munhwajae' is based on the Cultural Heritage Protection Act, which was originally derived from Japanese law, and carries a strong impression of 'past artifacts' or 'goods.'

'Gukgayusan' aligns with the international standard concept of 'Heritage (遺産·Heritage).' The bill explicitly states that it refers to "cultural heritage, natural heritage, and intangible heritage that are national, ethnic, or global heritage formed artificially or naturally, with significant historical, artistic, academic, or scenic value." Accordingly, cultural properties will be categorized into 'Cultural Heritage,' 'Natural Heritage,' and 'Intangible Heritage' going forward.

The bill also includes legal grounds for protecting and managing non-designated cultural heritage. As a result, the existing system, which focused on protecting designated and registered cultural properties, will be transformed into a comprehensive system that protects potential future heritage and non-designated cultural heritage as well.

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The agenda also includes designating December 9th of every year as National Heritage Day. On this day in 1995, Korean cultural heritage sites such as Seokguram Grotto, Bulguksa Temple, Jongmyo Shrine, and Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon were first registered as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

The Cultural Heritage Administration has been preparing proposals to improve the naming and classification system of cultural properties since last year to transition to the National Heritage system. Various legislative bills, including the National Heritage Basic Act, have been proposed. A Cultural Heritage Administration official stated that "plans to change the organization’s name from 'Cultural Heritage Administration' to 'National Heritage Administration' or similar are also underway."

Once the bill is approved by the president and promulgated, the National Heritage Basic Act will become the highest basic law for national heritage protection policies. A Cultural Heritage Administration official predicted, "From May next year, when the law is enforced, the system will transition to the National Heritage system."

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