Seoul and Pyongyang are reportedly planning to collaborate on a significant cultural initiative, aiming to jointly propose the traditional martial art of Taekwondo for inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
This cooperative effort follows the selection of Taekwondo as a candidate for joint registration by an advisory body of the Korean Heritage Service (KHS). The KHS announced its decision on January 19, indicating a clear path forward for the South Korean government’s involvement. Officials from the KHS have stated that South Korea intends to submit its application to the UNESCO Intergovernmental Commission for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in March.
This renewed push for joint recognition comes after North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, submitted its own application in March 2024 to register Taekwondo as a distinct national heritage. North Korea’s individual submission is currently under review, with a final decision anticipated during the 21st session of the UNESCO Committee. This crucial session is scheduled to take place in Xiamen, China, from November 30 to December 5, 2026.
Should both countries’ submissions be successful, Taekwondo would mark the second instance of a joint heritage registration between the two Koreas. The first such collaboration involved traditional Korean wrestling, known as ‘Ssirum’ or ‘Ssireum,’ which was jointly registered in 2018. If approved simultaneously, Taekwondo would become North Korea’s sixth intangible cultural heritage listed with UNESCO, while for South Korea, it would be their 23rd such recognition.
