Yeondeunghoe Inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List

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The Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has decided on December 16 to inscribe Yeondeunghoe (lantern lighting festival) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at its fifteenth session. The fifteenth session of the Committee is being held online from December 14–19.

The Committee took note of the inclusiveness of Yeondeunghoe, which contributes to overcoming all social boundaries and to ultimately expressing cultural diversity. The Committee also noted that the lantern lighting festival plays the role of sharing pleasure and, in times of difficulties, of enhancing social cohesion.

Most importantly, the Committee celebrated Yeondeunghoe as a good example of how a single inscription can contribute to enhancing the public awareness of the significance of intangible cultural heritage in general. 

The successful entry of Yeondeunghoe into the Representative List is an achievement accomplished through close collaboration throughout the entire process among the Cultural Heritage Administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Yeondeunghoe Safeguarding Committee. The new inscription has added to the celebratory mood created by the Republic of Korea being elected as a member of the Committee in this September.

With the lantern lighting festival entering the list, the Republic of Korea now has 21 elements on the Representative List. The Korean government will continue with its long-standing endeavors to further disseminate traditional Korean culture in the world and also to boost cultural diversity and human creativity.

* Elements on the Representative Lists: Royal Ancestral Ritual in the Jongmyo Shrine and its Music (2001); Pansori Epic Chant (2003); Dano Festival of Gangneung (2005); Ganggangsullae, Namsadang Nori, Yeongsanjae, Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut, and Cheoyongmu (2009); Gagok, Daemokjang, and Falconry (2010); Taekkyeon, Jultagi, and Weaving of Mosi in the Hansan Region (2011); Arirang (2012); Kimjang (2013); Nongak (2014); Tugging Rituals and Games (2015); Culture of Jeju Haenyeo (2016); Traditional Korean Wrestling  (2018; joint inscription by the two Koreas); and Yeondeunghoe (2020).