Im Miran, Gwangju City Council Member, "Chilseok Gossaum Nori Should Be Inscribed on UNESCO"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] There has been a proposal to inscribe ‘Gwangju Chilseok Gossaum Nori,’ a representative folk game of the Gwangju region, on the UNESCO list.

On the 23rd, Im Miran, a member of the Gwangju Metropolitan Council (Democratic Party, Nam-gu District 3), stated at a symposium hosted by the (Corporation) Gwangju Chilseok Gossaum Nori Preservation Society (Chairman Lee Imyeon), “We must promote the inscription of Gwangju Chilseok Gossaum Nori, a representative Korean folk game that transcends regions, eras, and spaces, on the UNESCO list.”

Councilor Im emphasized, “As a roadmap for UNESCO inscription, we need to set specific implementation strategies and goals for inscription in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage category,” and added, “Also, a ‘(tentative name) Gwangju Chilseok Gossaum Nori UNESCO Inscription Promotion Committee’ should be fully organized through Gwangju City, Nam-gu, and private organizations to handle the practical work.”

According to Councilor Im, the expected benefits of inscribing Gwangju Chilseok Gossaum Nori on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list include ▲ UNESCO support for intangible heritage protection ▲ support for information and experience exchange at the international level ▲ support for researchers and activists related to various aspects of intangible heritage preservation ▲ training and norm establishment support for necessary personnel ▲ financial and technical support for protection.

Meanwhile, the symposium titled ‘Post-COVID-19 Transmission and Festival Revitalization Directions of Gossaum Nori’ was chaired by Professor Lee Yongyeon of Seoyoung University, who serves as the Planning Advisory Chairman of the Gossaum Nori Preservation Society, and featured keynote presentations by Pyo Inju, Dean of the College of Humanities at Chonnam National University, Professor Kim Harim of Chosun University, and Professor Park Jongchan of Gwangju University.

Participants in the discussion included Councilor Im, Professor Hanyangmyeong of Andong National University, Kim Junyoung, Director of the Gwangju City Culture, Tourism and Sports Office, Byeon Jihyun, Director of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Division at the Cultural Heritage Administration, Kim Jiwon, Head of the Gwangju Cultural Foundation, Cha Jaewoong, General Director of the Chungjang Festival, Lee Seungcheol, Director of Gwangju MBC, Park Jinhyun, reporter of Gwangju Ilbo, and Kim Jaechul, Senior Researcher at the Gwangju Jeonnam Research Institute.

Meanwhile, Korea’s intangible cultural heritages inscribed on UNESCO include 21 national intangible cultural heritages such as Jongmyo Jerye and Jongmyo Jeryeak, Pansori, Ganggangsullae, Gangneung Danoje, and Yeondeunghoe.