Core Intangible Heritage Such as "Gat-Making" Faces Risk of Disappearance

The Paradox Behind K-Culture's Popularity: Heritage on the Brink
72% of Holders in Vulnerable Categories Are Over 70
Min Hyungbae: "Urgent Need for Policy Improvements and Increased Funding"

Min Hyungbae, member of the Democratic Party of Korea.

While the Korean "gat" has emerged as a global icon through Netflix games, a large number of national intangible cultural heritage categories, including "gat-making" (gat-il), are reportedly at risk of disappearing due to an aging population and lack of support. Behind the global rise of K-culture, warnings are being raised that the foundation for passing down traditional culture is rapidly weakening.

According to the "Status of Vulnerable National Intangible Cultural Heritage Categories Over the Past Five Years" submitted by the National Heritage Administration to Assemblyman Min Hyungbae of the Democratic Party of Korea (Gwangsan-eul, Gwangju) on October 10, there are only four recognized holders of the "gat-making" craft nationwide, with an average age of 83. This starkly illustrates that 72% of practitioners in vulnerable categories are aged 70 or older.

Currently, most of the 25 vulnerable categories have remained in a precarious state for more than five years. In particular, three of the "national emergency-protected intangible heritage" categories, which require urgent preservation, no longer have any recognized holders. The "bodyjang" craft, for example, has not found a successor even 20 years after the last holder passed away.

While the number of practitioners continues to decline, the related budget is actually shrinking. The total budget for national intangible cultural heritage is expected to decrease by more than 9 billion won, from 63.9 billion won in 2024 to a lower amount in 2025. The budget for the protection and development of emergency-protected intangible heritage has remained at 160 million won per year for the past five years.

Assemblyman Min stated, "While the world marvels at the traditional skills behind K-culture, in reality, only a handful of elderly holders are barely managing to preserve these traditions," warning, "At this rate, the lineage of national intangible cultural heritage could be severed." He emphasized, "It is urgent to implement concrete policy improvements and increase the budget, such as discovering new holders for categories with vacancies and expanding support for the protection and development of national intangible cultural heritage."

Meanwhile, on September 10, Assemblyman Min sponsored the "K-Pop Demon Hunters Act" (an amendment to the Content Industry Promotion Act) to establish an institutional foundation for the expansion of traditional culture into the global content industry.