The Cultural Heritage Administration of the Republic of Korea, headed by Administrator Chung Jae-suk, has announced that it has submitted the nomination of “Talchum, Mask Dance Drama in the Republic of Korea” to UNESCO for the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the 2003 Convention.

“Talchum, Mask Dance Drama in the Republic of Korea” consists of 18 elements of nationally and provincially designated intangible cultural.

Talchum is a performing art that encompasses dance, music, and theater. In a talchum performance, an ensemble of six to ten musicians accompany masked actors who sing and dance and exchange verbal interactions through theatrical movements.

The primary themes of talchum include hypocrisy and arrogance of the nobility, and people’s suffering under patriarchal, pre-modern society. Diverse social issues are humorously expressed through dramatic combinations of songs, dances, movements, and words. Masks, the looks of which show exaggerated and typified representations of everyday personages, are an indispensable element in the presentation of talchum.

A Korean mask-dance drama does not require a formal stage, and those who watch a mask-dance drama are not passive spectators, but important participants. They complete the production with their cheers and boos as the drama unfolds. Talchum is a dynamic theatrical flow of action and sound created through the combined efforts of both the players and spectators.

Themed around the criticism of the absurdities and ills of traditional society, the Korean mask dance dramas illustrate the escalation of conflicts stemming from these issues, but eventually end either with a reconciliatory dance encompassing all parties or in the promotion of virtue and punishment of vice. Therefore, talchum is not really an art about conflict, but one about harmony and reconciliation. This meshes well with the spirit of mutual respect among communities that is enshrined in the 2003 Convention.

 Eighteen safeguarding associations from each element have participated in the nomination, which, until today, have endearvored to transmit talchum to future generations through performances and formal and non-formal educations.

 The nomination of “Talchum, Mask Dance Drama in the Republic of Korea” will go through technical completeness check by the Secretariat of the 2003 Convention and then be forwarded to the Evaluation Body. The inscription of the nomination will be decided during the 17^th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage scheduled to be held in December, 2022. The Cultural Heritage Administration will continue its effort to inscribe talchum on the Representative List in collaboration with the safeguarding associations and relevant authorities including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

* 2003 Convention: The 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

Adopted by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) on 17^th OCT 2003.

The purposes of the Convention are 1) to safeguard the intangible cultural heritage, 2) to ensure respect for the intangible cultural heritage of the communities, groups and individuals concerned, 3) to raise awareness at the local, national, international levels of the importance of the intangible cultural heritage, and of ensuring mutual appreciation thereof, 4) to provide for international cooperation and assistance.

As of 2018, 178 states are members of the Convention including the Republic of Korea.

List of the nominated elements of talchum

Yangju Byeolsandae Nori (National Intangible Cultural Heritage No.2)

Tongyeong Ogwangdae (National Intangible Cultural Heritage No.6)

Goseong Ogwangdae (National Intangible Cultural Heritage No.7)

Gangneung Gwanno Gamyeongeuk (A part of Ganggneung Danoje, National Intangible Cultural Heritage No.13)

Bukcheong Saja Noreum (National Intangible Cultural Heritage No.15)

Bongsan Talchum (National Intangible Cultural Heritage No.17)

Dongnae Yaryu (National Intangible Cultural Heritage No.18)

Gangnyeong Talchum (National Intangible Cultural Heritage No.34)

Suyeong Yaryu (National Intangible Cultural Heritage No.43)

Songpa Sandae Nori (National Intangible Cultural Heritage No.49)

Eunyul Talchum (National Intangible Cultural Heritage No.61)

Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori (National Intangible Cultural Heritage No.69)

Gasan Ogwangdae (National Intangible Cultural Heritage No.73)

Sokcho Saja Nori (Gangwon-do Intangible Cultural Heritage No.31)

Toegyewon Sandae Nori (Gyeonggi-do Intangible Cultural Heritage No.53)

Jinju Ogwangdae (Gyeongsangnam-do Intangible Cultural Heritage No.27)

Gimhae Ogwangdae (Gyeongsangnam-do Intangible Cultural Heritage No.37)

Yechon Cheongdan Noreum (Gyeongsangbuk-do Intangible Cultural Heritage No.42)

* Writer:  World Heritage Division

Contact 1   Park Hyung-bin, senior researcher, World Heritage Division

Contact 2   Sim So-yi, programme specialist, World Heritage Division