101 Korean Intangible Cultural Heritages Including Arirang and Pansori Managed as Chinese Heritage

Jeongseon Arirang Festival 'Arirang Chorus' (not directly related to the above article). Photo by Yonhap News

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It has been revealed that 101 Korean intangible heritage items, including Arirang and Pansori, are being managed as Chinese heritage.

According to data titled "Status of Korean heritage designated as Chinese cultural heritage" received on the 4th by Park Su-hyun (Gongju·Buyeo·Cheongyang), a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee from the Democratic Party, from the National Heritage Administration, 20 Korean heritage items are designated and managed as Chinese "national-level" intangible heritage under the pretext of being related to the Joseonjok, and 81 items are designated as "provincial-level" heritage.

Arirang is designated as traditional music of the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin Province, Pansori is designated as acrobatics of Cheorwon City in Liaoning Province and Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin Province, and the kimchi-making technique (production method) is designated as a traditional craft of Yanji City in Jilin Province.

In response, Korea has registered five items including Arirang, Nongak, Pansori, Ssireum, and Kimjang culture as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, but seven items such as haegeum, neolttwigi (traditional Korean seesaw), swing jumping, and traditional weddings are designated only as Chinese heritage and are not even managed as national heritage domestically.

China had already inscribed Nongak dance as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. However, Korea registered Nongak with UNESCO only in 2014, five years later, showing a delayed response.

Assemblyman Park Su-hyun pointed out, "The National Heritage Administration's position is that there is no data on the timing when China designated Korean intangible heritage as its own, nor has there been any commissioned research to respond to China's cultural invasion." He criticized, "They say they will respond if China applies for the registration of Joseonjok intangible heritage, but I question whether waiting to act is appropriate." He added, "The government has consistently neglected its duties without learning any lessons from the public outrage caused by Japan's push for the 'Sado Mine' UNESCO registration over the past six years," strongly urging proactive measures.

Regarding this, the National Heritage Administration stated, "We will strive to protect our intangible heritage by improving the system, such as preparing preliminary lists to expand intangible heritage designations."

Since 2013, the National Heritage Administration has been identifying and investigating items not designated as national intangible heritage. The Administration explained, "Among our intangible heritage items designated as national-level by China, 'neolttwigi,' 'swing jumping,' and 'wedding' are included in the basic list and will be used as materials for future designation."

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