'Jindo Intangible Heritage' International Intangible Heritage Conference Opens on the 16th

Experts from Six Asia-Pacific Countries Gather
Discussing Strategies for Transmission, Creative Utilization, and International Collaboration

Jindo County, Jeonnam-Gwangju Unified Special City, is bringing together intangible heritage experts from six Asia-Pacific countries, international organizations, and cultural city officials to explore the global potential of local intangible heritage—including Jindo Ssitgimgut—and to take the first step in fostering Jindo as a hub for international intangible heritage exchange.

Jindo County to Host the 2026 Jindo International Intangible Cultural Heritage Conference from September 16 to 18.

Jindo County and the Jindo County Cultural City Center announced that they will host the '2026 Jindo International Intangible Cultural Heritage Conference' at Jindo County Office and other venues from September 16 to 18, 2026.

The conference, themed 'Living Heritage, Opening the Future Together,' is designed as a platform for international exchange to discuss how local traditional culture can be handed down through changing times and developed into new cultural values.

Participants will include intangible heritage experts from six countries in the Asia-Pacific region—China, Japan, Mongolia, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam—as well as domestic and international organizations related to UNESCO and cultural city officials.

Attendees will share their experiences in safeguarding and transmitting intangible heritage in their respective countries and seek sustainable international cooperation strategies that connect nations, cities, and institutions.

On the first day of the conference, September 16, a performance of Jindo Ssitgimgut, the county's representative intangible heritage, will take place at the annex of the Jindo Folk Culture Center. This will be followed by a welcome dinner to provide a networking opportunity for domestic and international participants.

Formal discussions will begin on September 17.

After the opening ceremony, Jindo County will sign exchange agreements with the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Intangible Heritage Center, the Mongolian National Heritage Center, Sichuan Opera Troupe of China, and the Center for the Promotion and Research of Vietnam's Cultural Heritage Values, to build an international cooperation network for intangible heritage.

The keynote presentations will address 'The Archetype of Jindo’s Intangible Heritage and Its Contemporary Significance' and 'The Challenges of Preserving Folk Art in the Asia-Pacific Region and International Cooperation,' highlighting both the value of intangible heritage transmission and key issues to be solved by the international community.

The first session, 'Transmission and Challenges of Folk Arts in the Asia-Pacific Region,' will share examples of preservation from Japan, Indonesia, India, and others, and examine the current status of Jindo’s intangible heritage and its sustainable transmission strategies.

Particularly noteworthy in this conference is the possibility of enlisting Jindo Ssitgimgut on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The second session, 'Lessons Learned and Prospects for UNESCO Intangible Heritage Listing,' will focus on the experiences and challenges of the registration process by referencing the joint Vietnam tug-of-war inscription as well as cases such as Korean mask dance drama and Jeju haenyeo (women divers) culture.

Additionally, the session 'Possibility and Strategy for Listing Jindo Ssitgimgut as Intangible Heritage of Humanity' will be devoted to charting a course for elevating this iconic local heritage into a global cultural asset.

The third session will move beyond merely preserving traditions, discussing how to create new uses for intangible heritage in contemporary society.

On the final day, September 18, under the theme 'Living Heritage, Connecting Cities,' the focus will shift to developing intangible heritage as an asset for cultural cities and the tourism industry.

Examples will be introduced, including the development of regional tourism products utilizing cultural heritage, intangible heritage-based tourism villages, international cooperation networks established through Arirang, and intercity cooperation achieved via joint UNESCO registrations.

The conference will also give a platform to hear directly from the younger generation, who will be responsible for the future of intangible heritage.

The final special session, 'Dialogue with Young Jindo Practitioners,' will feature young inheritors active in Jindo Ssitgimgut, Jindo Dashiraegi, Jindo Arirang, and the Jindo County Folk Arts Troupe.

County Governor Lee Jaegak said, “This conference goes beyond promoting Jindo’s intangible heritage both domestically and internationally. It aims to connect the diverse transmission experiences across the Asia-Pacific region and seek new opportunities for cooperation. We will continue our efforts so that Jindo can grow as a hub for global intangible heritage exchange, based on international networking and solidarity.”

Meanwhile, following the conclusion of the International Intangible Heritage Conference, the '2026 Jindo International Intangible Cultural Festival,' featuring a blend of domestic and international traditional performances, exhibitions, and experiential programs, will be held at the Jindo Folk Culture Center and surrounding areas from September 18 to 20.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.