South Korea Partners with UNESCO to Protect Intangible Cultural Heritage

On May 23, 2025, the Cultural Heritage Administration of South Korea announced a significant partnership with UNESCO at the organization's headquarters in Paris. The two entities signed a 'Framework Arrangement' aimed at establishing an online platform to share best practices for the protection of intangible cultural heritage worldwide. This initiative is expected to enhance awareness and facilitate the sharing of information regarding intangible cultural heritage. Over the next five years, South Korea will contribute 1 billion KRW annually to a trust fund dedicated to this cause, marking the first time the country has created a separate fund for UNESCO's intangible heritage sector. Since the adoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2003, UNESCO has been working to preserve cultural diversity and creativity by listing various intangible heritages from around the globe. South Korea currently boasts 23 entries on the UNESCO list, ranking fourth among the 184 countries that are parties to the Convention, following China, Turkey, and France.