South Korea’s News 1 reported that North Korea’s “Arirang”, a traditional musical performance has been approved and registered into the UNESCO Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This is the first time a North Korean tradition has been registered by UNESCO under this category.
On the 26th, Korea’s Ministry of Culture reported that during this year’s 9th Intergovernmental Committee that was held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, UNESCO officials approved North Korea’s Arirang to join the list of humanity’s cultural heritage.
“Arirang” is a Korean folk song that was passed on through oral tradition. Forms and styles of Arirang are seen in different areas or provinces of Korea that reflect the different characteristics of the local people that live there. North Korean Arirang includes the tradition of the provinces, Pyeongando, Hwanghaedo, Gangwondo, Northern Hamgyeongdo, Jagangdo, and Pyeongyang.
South Korea’s Ministry of Culture also added that Korean “Nongak” is also undergoing evaluation. “Nongak” is a form of agricultural music that was performed during labor. If approved, South Korea will have 17 forms of heritage in UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.
This is not the first time North Korea had requested evaluation from the UNESCO of their Arirang to be registered as a Humanity’s Heritage. On December of 2012, North Korea had filed the same request, but at the time did not receive UNESCO’s approval.
Meanwhile, relations between North and South Korea, and North Korea and the West do not seem very positive. With the release of the Hollywood film The Interview coming up which features a fictional assassination of North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong-Un, the North Korean government has shown very sensitive reactions. Their government has also heavily criticized the United States regarding the riots regarding Ferguson, and called it a serious violation of human rights.
