The 17th Intergovernmental Committee of the UNESCO Intangible Heritage Protection Convention (11.28-12.3) held in Rabat, Morocco, finally decided to list "Korean Mask Dance" on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
The UNESCO Intangible Heritage Committee praised the value of universal equality and criticism of the social status system emphasized by "Korean Mask Dance" as still a meaningful topic today and plays a symbolic role in each region's cultural identity.
In particular, out of total of 46 applications for registration on the agenda, the"Korean Mask Dance" was evaluated as an exemplary case that clearly described the social function and cultural meaning of intangible heritage.
‘AndongHahoeByeolsingutTalnori’ and ‘YecheonCheongdannori’ were highly praised for their comprehensive traditional art that advocated universal equality and sublimated the contradiction of the class system into dance, song, and play. It is important that it has been recognized as an excellent universal value for its faithfulness to the role of social criticism as a symbolic element of the cultural identity of theregion.
As a result, Andong has become a historical city with five world heritages, including Korea's historical village (Hahoe Village), SanjiSeungwon (Bongjeongsa Temple), Seowon (Dosanseowon, Byeongsanseowon), and Talchum (HahoebyeolSingutTalnori). Yecheon also achieved its first world heritage.
The UNESCO listing of "Korean Mask Dance" is a good example of the collaboration of the Cultural Heritage Administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andong City, North Gyeongsang Province, and five municipal and provincial intangible cultural conservation organizations and the World Federation of Culture and Arts.
With this registration, Korea has a total of 22 UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and will continue to make efforts to promote cultural diversity and human creativity in accordance with the UNESCO Intangible Heritage Protection Convention.