North Korea Moves Ahead of South Korea in Efforts to Have Taekwondo Listed by UNESCO
Published
A report has emerged that North Korea is ahead of South Korea in its efforts to register taekwondo as an intangible cultural heritage with UNESCO. Taekwondo began in South Korea and has spread widely around the world, and both South and North Korea have argued that their own versions of taekwondo are important cultural heritage.
In 2018, South Korea had taekwondo listed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, centered on the national team's taekwondo discipline. North Korea has also been pursuing listing with international bodies, promoting its own traditional martial art related to the name "taekwondo." This report has drawn attention because it has brought renewed focus to the competition between the two countries.
However, the information reported so far is limited. The report did not confirm specific details, such as how far North Korea's listing process has progressed or when UNESCO's final review is scheduled. Therefore, a more accurate picture will need to be confirmed through official UNESCO announcements and explanations from the relevant government agencies.
Experts believe that inscription on a cultural heritage list can affect more than just prestige, also influencing the preservation of the culture and its international standing. It will be necessary to keep watching how the South Korean government responds and how UNESCO reviews the applications from the two countries.
Sources: 최보식의언론
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