Public Contest in June, Outstanding Cases Announced in September
Including Digital, Popular Culture, and Democratization Heritage
88 Seoul Olympic Rolling Hoop and Costume Sketch Listed as Preliminary Cultural Heritage. Photo by Yonhap News
PC communication and Hangul Word are expected to be designated as national heritage. The aim is to systematically discover and manage so-called "heritage of our era," which was created or formed less than 50 years ago.
On December 17, Huh Min, Administrator of the National Heritage Administration, announced the "2026 Major Work Plan" at the National Palace Museum. He stated, "We will focus on discovering 'heritage of our era (preliminary cultural heritage)' and proactively manage them for future designation and registration as heritage." He explained that the agency will actively uncover areas that have received relatively little attention within the institutional framework of cultural heritage.
There are six key areas of focus for discovery: digital and informatization heritage (such as PC communication and Hangul Word), popular culture heritage (early materials from films, popular music, and dramas), democratization and modern history heritage, birthplaces of independence activists, heritage related to forced mobilization during the Japanese occupation, and modern and contemporary architectural and industrial heritage (such as railroads, shipyards, and coal mines).
Disaster and memory heritage are also included as targets for discovery. The purpose is to preserve records of social disasters as historical lessons. The agency plans to systematically manage memories of incidents such as the Sewol Ferry Disaster and the Itaewon Tragedy.
The National Heritage Administration will hold a public contest in June next year and announce outstanding cases in September. In December, a special photo exhibition and academic conference will be held. The preliminary cultural heritage system was introduced for the first time this year. Last month, ten outstanding cases were selected for the first time, and a commemorative photo exhibition was held. Currently, about 2,000 cases have been listed.
Treatment and nursing tools of Marianne and Margaret of Sorokdo, listed in the tentative cultural heritage list. Yonhap News
This year, forty-three additional modern and contemporary landscape resources were discovered through this system. Among landscapes formed from the Japanese occupation period to the present, those with high cultural and historical value were selected. Based on this, the agency plans to pursue the designation of modern and contemporary scenic sites next year.
Administrator Huh stated, "While existing national heritage has mainly focused on heritage from before the Joseon Dynasty or from the Japanese occupation period, preliminary cultural heritage is characterized by encompassing assets closely tied to modern history and everyday life." He added, "We will systematically preserve traces from the era of industrialization, democratization, and informatization from the 1970s to the 1990s."
In the field of folk heritage, the agency will discover temple restrooms, play equipment, and heritage related to production and industry. Temple restrooms are notable as examples that showcase both traditional architectural techniques and hygiene concepts, drawing attention in the context of everyday culture. Play equipment serves as material for understanding Koreans' leisure and play culture.
The natural heritage field includes movable geological heritage, marine animal and plant heritage, and modern and contemporary landscape resources (scenic sites). Movable geological heritage refers to rock and fossil specimens that can be transported, while marine animal and plant heritage includes specimens and habitats of endangered marine species such as the Dokdo sea lion and the spotted seal.
Intangible heritage will be surveyed with a focus on items closely related to daily life and oral traditions. Through a nationwide survey involving regional universities, the agency will assess the current state of intangible heritage communities and will gradually promote areas such as traditional knowledge, oral and expressive traditions, daily customs, social consciousness, and traditional games and festivals. Documentation accumulated during the basic research process will be expanded into popular culture content through collaboration with professional writers in broadcasting and other fields.
The National Heritage Administration will also broaden the scope of its discoveries. The core of the policy is digital and informatization heritage. This includes PC communication from the 1980s and 1990s (such as Cheollian and Hitel), early versions of Hangul word processors, online community culture, and early internet portal materials. The agency will systematically preserve traces from the transition to the digital era.
For popular culture heritage, the focus will be on early materials from Korean films, dramas, and popular music. To trace the origins of K-culture, the agency will include film reels, broadcast scripts, and master recordings from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Modern and contemporary architectural and industrial heritage will cover assets from the era of industrialization, such as railway stations, shipyards, mining villages, and textile factories. In particular, Seoul Station (the former Seoul Station building) will undergo conservation and restoration starting next year to mark its 100th anniversary this year. The process will proceed in the following order: original form verification research (2025), safety inspection and detailed design (2026), and conservation and restoration work (2027-2028).
Administrator Huh stated, "The culture and technology experienced by our generation will be important heritage for future generations," adding, "It is the responsibility of the National Heritage Administration to document and preserve the changes of the digital era."
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