[2025 Audit] Did "K-Pop Demon Hunters" Korean Traditional Knot Originate from China? Cultural Heritage Administration Posted for Years

Park Suhyun: "A Dedicated Organization Needed to Counter Cultural Appropriation"

The knot appearance in K-Pop Demon Hunters. Provided by the office of Assemblyman Suhyun Park

The Cultural Heritage Administration had posted an explanation on its website for several years stating that the traditional Korean knot, which gained global attention through "K-Pop Demon Hunters," was created under Chinese influence. This content was recently deleted.

According to materials released on the 24th by Assemblyman Suhyun Park of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, the Cultural Heritage Administration's website had for years displayed the phrase, "Our country's knots were influenced by China due to frequent exchanges with China."

Based on this explanation, China has claimed that the traditional Korean knot is part of its own culture, prompting calls for urgent measures to prevent further cultural distortion.

Korean knot craft is a unique traditional technique that has been passed down since the Goryeo and Joseon dynasties. In 1968, it was designated as the national intangible cultural heritage "Maedeupjang (Master of Knots)."

After Assemblyman Park's office raised the issue, the Cultural Heritage Administration deleted the controversial explanation on the 1st of this month. However, the agency stated that it is difficult to determine exactly when the phrase was first posted.

Since 2021, numerous posts have appeared on Baidu, China's largest portal, claiming that "Korea has acknowledged that knots are part of Chinese culture." In January of the same year, a Chinese media outlet captured a screenshot of the Cultural Heritage Administration's website and reported, "Korean knots were introduced through China." This suggests that the explanation was posted from at least March 2016 until recently.

According to materials submitted by the Cultural Heritage Administration to Assemblyman Park's office, China claims a total of 20 Korean intangible cultural heritages, including Arirang, Gayageum, Nongak, and Kimjang, as its own cultural assets.

Of these, eight have not yet been designated as national heritage in Korea, and for six, China registered them as its own intangible cultural heritage before Korea did.

Assemblyman Park emphasized, "At a time when K-content is leading the world, the risk of Korean cultural heritage being distorted and appropriated by other countries is increasing. There is an urgent need for swift and effective measures, such as establishing a dedicated organization and preparing a response manual."