South Korea has registered the Korean ginseng tradition, which has long been associated with health and longevity, as well as the practice of the traditional martial art of taekwondo to compete for inclusion in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Korea Heritage Service earlier this month announced that it had submitted two nomination files to UNESCO headquarters: "Insam Tradition: Knowledge, Skills, and Cultural Practices Related to Ginseng in the Republic of Korea" and "Taekwondo: Korean Training Tradition Centered on Dojang."
The Insam tradition encompasses more than just the cultivation and processing of ginseng. This tradition arises from a lifestyle shaped by respect for nature and an effort to achieve well-being and longevity, quoted from The Korea Herald (23/4).
This tradition includes the skills needed to cultivate and process the medicinal plant, as well as daily practices such as beliefs, rituals, legends, recipes, and gift-giving traditions related to the plant.
This tradition continues in various forms in various periods and regions and is transmitted through direct participation and educational activities.
After being reviewed by the UNESCO Secretariat and evaluated by an expert committee, the final decision on the registration will be made at the 23rd session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2028.
Meanwhile, Taekwondo is rooted in dojang, a training hall where instructors and practitioners train together and cultivate a sense of mutual respect and cooperation.
This practice fosters community bonds through joint training, passing down techniques, codes of ethics and values of practice from one generation to the next.
Practitioners of all age groups are involved in taekwondo, and this tradition is transmitted through a cycle of generations in which some practitioners eventually become instructors themselves, maintaining the practice through teaching and learning.
Following the example of the traditional Korean wrestling practice, ssireum, the Korean Heritage Service hopes for a joint registration of North and South Korea for Taekwondo.
North Korea submitted its own nomination in March 2024 for "Taekwon-Do, a traditional martial art in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," which is currently under review.
To note, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea are the official names of South Korea and North Korea.
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