The UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has decided to include 5 items of intangible cultural heritage of Korea (Ganggangsullae, Namsadang Nori, Yeongsanjae, Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut, Cheoyongmu) on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on September 30 at its 4th session, which is taking place in Abu Dhabi, UAE from 28 September to 2 October 2009.

The five items of intangible cultural heritage have been inscribed on the Representative List with the recognition that ① they reflect the world’s cultural diversity, ② they contribute to testifying to human creativity, and ③ the government of the State Party is taking safeguarding measures to protect and promote the heritage concerned.

With this listing, Korea now has a total of eight items included in UNESCO's Representative List. The others are the Royal Ancestral Ritual in the Jongmyo Shrine and its Music (registered on May 18, 2001), the Pansori Epic Chant (registered on November 7, 2003), and the Gangneung Danoje Festival (registered on November 25, 2005). 


Korea is serving as a member of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2008-2012 term, which comprises 24 States Members. Korea has also been elected as a member of the Committee’s subsidiary body, which consists of 6 States Members and is responsible for the examination of nominations for inscription on the Representative List, and has participated in the examining process for the first ever inscription this year. This shows Korea’s leading role in UNESCO’s intangible heritage-related activities.