[DiaryPoint Reporter Kim Jeong-hun] The traditional knowledge and skills involved in making hanji, along with the cultural practices surrounding it, have been recommended for inscription on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Korea Heritage Service announced the recommendation on November 5. The final decision will be made by the 21st session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which meets in Xiamen, China, from November 30 to December 5.
A recommendation is not a final listing. It means the evaluation body has reviewed the nomination and submitted its view to the committee, which will consider it before deciding whether to inscribe the tradition. The recommendation signals progress toward a possible listing, but it does not mean hanji is already on UNESCO’s list.
The nomination covers both hanji and the knowledge behind its making
The nomination is not limited to a sheet of paper. It covers the techniques and traditional knowledge used to make hanji, as well as the cultural practices that have developed around its production. At its heart are not only the paper’s physical qualities, but also the experience of the people who work with its materials and pass on their skills, and the living traditions of their communities.
The news therefore brings recognition to hanji as more than an old craft object: it acknowledges the methods and knowledge behind its production as intangible heritage that continues to this day. If the listing is approved, the number of South Korea’s UNESCO intangible cultural heritage entries will rise from 23 to 24.
The listing itself would not change the price or purchasing terms of hanji products, or create any special everyday benefits. The focus is on recognizing the traditional production knowledge and cultural practices internationally, and affirming the need to preserve them.
The committee is expected to make its final decision during its meeting in Xiamen, scheduled for November 30 to December 5. The specific date of the vote will depend on the meeting agenda. Once the decision is final, it will affect both the number of South Korea’s listed heritage items and the international standing of hanji culture.