National Heritage Administration Confirms Next Nominee
Shift Toward "Joint Inscription" in Response to North Korea's Move
Two-Track Strategy Expected, Including "Expanded Inscription"
The government has begun the process of registering Taekwondo as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The ultimate goal is a joint listing by South and North Korea. Attention is focused on whether the two Koreas will join hands for a cultural heritage registration for the first time in eight years, since the joint inscription of Ssireum in 2018.
The National Heritage Administration announced on January 19 that it recently held a meeting of the Cultural Heritage Committee and selected Taekwondo as the next candidate for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage registration. The application is scheduled to be submitted to the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in March.
This decision is closely related to North Korea’s swift actions. In March 2024, North Korea submitted an application under the name “Traditional Martial Art Taekwon-Do of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.” UNESCO’s review is currently underway. The result will be announced at the 21st session of the committee, which will be held in Xiamen, China, in December this year.
At the time of North Korea’s solo application, authorities had drawn a clear line, stating that “there were no discussions about a joint application.” However, their stance has shifted dramatically in recent days. Since Taekwondo is a traditional martial art unique to the Korean Peninsula, this move is seen as a preemptive measure to prevent disputes over authenticity and unnecessary diplomatic friction that could arise if the two Koreas register the heritage separately.
The government’s strategy consists of two main approaches. The first is to follow the precedent set by the joint inscription of Ssireum in 2018. At that time, both Koreas had applied separately, but through diplomatic efforts by the Moon Jae-in administration and mediation by UNESCO, a historic joint registration was achieved. The committee unanimously approved the agenda, calling it “an unprecedented decision for peace and reconciliation.”
The second approach is an “expanded inscription” method. If North Korea’s application, which is already under review, is approved first, South Korea could join later by expanding the scope of the listing. An official from the National Heritage Administration stated, “We are proceeding with all options open,” and added, “Given the precedent of Ssireum, we are prioritizing a joint inscription but will respond flexibly depending on the situation.”
Since 2001, when “Jongmyo Jerye and Jongmyo Jeryeak” were first registered, South Korea has accumulated a total of 23 items on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, with “Traditional Knowledge and Techniques of Hanji (Korean Paper) Making” up for review this year. Whether Taekwondo will be inscribed will be determined after the application is submitted and reviewed, with a decision expected as early as around 2028. However, if the joint registration with North Korea gains momentum, a fast-track process similar to that used for Ssireum could also be considered.
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