Two Koreas list ‘Korean wrestling’ in UNESCO

Two Koreas list ‘Korean wrestling’ in UNESCO
The two Koreas at the 13th Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection Agreement Inter-Governmental Committee decided to list the traditional Korean wrestling ‘Ssireum’ in the UNESCO on 26 November last year. South Korea submitted the application in March 2016 and the North previous year in March 2015. The two Koreas then submitted the application again recently on the condition of mutual registration and it was passed unanimously by 24 committee member countries. To mark the registration, the Cultural Heritage Administration, in cooperation with the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Korea Ssireum Association, held a ceremony on 20 December at Jangchung Arena, Seoul. Players of the two countries demonstrated their skill on the day and found similarities and differences on styles and forms.

Korea Annual Traditional Handcraft Art Exhibition
The 42nd Korea Annual Traditional Handcraft Art Exhibition was held on 12 December at the National Intangible Cultural Asset Hall in Samseong-dong, Seoul by the National Intangible Heritage Center and the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Association. The exhibition provides an opportunity to measure the level of our handicraft present and future. It also finds and promotes new talents. Total of 131 works were presented of which 8 won the high governmental prizes. Lee Duk-eun won the presidential prize for delicate and colorful needle work and Ko Sung-yoon won the prime minister’s prize for a traditional Korean zither. Jo Sook-mi won the culture, sports and tourism minister’s prize for a bamboo curtain and Ahn Gyu-hong won the cultural heritage administration minister’s prize for a closet. Ko Sung-eun won the national intangible heritage center chairman’s prize for a Buddhist painting.