North Korea Likely to Secure Solo UNESCO Inscription for Taekwondo

Korea Heritage Service chief: "Joint inscription expected to be virtually unfeasible"
South Korea's Hanji also expected to be recommended for inscription

The plan for North and South Korea to jointly inscribe taekwondo on UNESCO's List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity has become virtually unfeasible. North Korea is now increasingly likely to cross the inscription threshold on its own.

At the World Taekwondo Grand Prix Challenge / World Taekwondo Federation. Yonhap News Agency

Heo Min, Commissioner of the Korea Heritage Service, said on social media on November 2 that North Korea's application, titled "Traditional Martial Arts of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Taekwondo," is expected to receive a recommendation for inscription from UNESCO's evaluation body. Cases in which a recommendation is overturned are rare. The evaluation results are scheduled to be announced on November 3. The final decision will be made by the 21st session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which will be held in Xiamen, China, in December.

The difference in application timing has made a joint inscription difficult. North Korea submitted its application in March 2024, while South Korea did not submit its paperwork until March 2026, after considering the possibility of a joint inscription. The Korea Heritage Service had listed the pursuit of a joint inscription by the two Koreas in its key work plan for 2026. Critics say North Korea moved ahead while South Korea delayed.

Commissioner Heo said a joint inscription was expected to be virtually unfeasible given various circumstances, including the current state of inter-Korean relations, adding, "I find this very regrettable." However, he did not provide details about what efforts had been made to achieve a joint inscription. The two Koreas jointly inscribed ssireum, or Korean wrestling, in 2018.

Some have suggested that the timing of Heo's remarks, made a day before the official results were due, reflected concern over who would be held responsible. The Korea Heritage Service explained, "We wanted to apologize in advance for the public's disappointment and criticism."

Heo Min, head of the Korea Heritage Service. Yonhap News

Commissioner Heo stressed that even if North Korea secures the inscription first, it will not gain exclusive rights to taekwondo. The government plans to continue pursuing either an extended inscription or a separate inscription, regardless of the evaluation results. However, an extended inscription must undergo evaluation and review just like a new inscription, and approval from the country where the element is already inscribed is required, so the process is expected to take time.

That day, Commissioner Heo also said that "Traditional Knowledge and Skills and Cultural Practices Related to the Making of Hanji" submitted by South Korea is expected to receive a recommendation for inscription. If confirmed, the number of South Korea's elements on the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity will rise to 24. "Ginseng culture" will be evaluated in 2028.

By contrast, with taekwondo added, North Korea will have six elements on the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In recent years, it has made concerted efforts to secure UNESCO inscriptions across cultural, natural, intangible, and documentary heritage. Experts cite "practical benefits" and a "first-mover strategy" as the main reasons. Analysts say North Korea is seeking to use the UNESCO brand as a tourism asset and earn foreign currency.

Competition over cultural heritage has also been evident in past inscriptions. After South Korea inscribed "Arirang, Lyrical Folk Song in the Republic of Korea" in 2012, North Korea followed in 2014 with "Arirang Folk Song in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea." When South Korea inscribed "Kimjang, Making and Sharing Kimchi" in 2013, North Korea separately inscribed "Kimchi-making" in 2015. The same pattern is seen in North Korea's 2024 inscription of "Custom of Korean Costume" ahead of any inscription of hanbok.

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