Arirang closer to UNESCO intangible heritage listing

A UNESCO body recommended the listing of Korean traditional folk song, “Arirang,” as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage of Korea, the Cultural Heritage Administration said Monday.

The recommendation moves Arirang a step closer to being acknowledged by the world as a unique Korean tradition, the government agency said.

Arirang was among 18 nominees recommended for the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by a subsidiary body of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The UNESCO general assembly will decide in Paris on Dec. 3-7 whether to put Arirang on its final list but government officials said tit was likely that it will be listed since most recommendations are accepted.

“The screening body cited Arirang’s having been kept and sung and created from generation to generation as the main reason for the recommendation,” CHA said in a press release.

Arirang, which is believed to have been derived from a folk song in Gangwon area more than 2,000 years ago, has developed into more than 50 different versions reflecting Koreans’ unique sentiment of “han,” representing the suppressed, but hopeful desire for justice. It is also believed to have played a key role in consolidating Korean people throughout the historical hardships and building up the Korean identity.

The Chinese government has reportedly been interested in enlisting Arirang on the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list citing ethnic Koreans living in the northeastern part of the country keeping “Jangbaek (Chinese naming of Mt. Baekdu area) Arirang.” However, it has not applied for the listing this time, the government said.

Korea currently has 14 items on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List, including the Royal Ancestral Rite and Ritual Music at the Jongmyo Shrine, which was performed at memorial ceremonies during Joseon era; “pansori,” a traditional Korean style of narrative song and falcon hunting.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)