By Shim Sun-ah
The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) has announced its submission to UNESCO for “The Insam Tradition: Knowledge, Skills, and Cultural Practices Related to Ginseng in the Republic of Korea” to be included on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The ginseng tradition encapsulates Korea’s deep-rooted belief in health and longevity. It encompasses not only cultivation and processing methods but also related cultural practices such as rituals, culinary traditions, and the custom of gift-giving. The KHS emphasizes that it embodies community spirit and shared well-being, passed down through hands-on experience and education.
UNESCO is expected to make a final decision on the nomination during the 23rd session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2028, following a review by the UNESCO Secretariat and its evaluation bodies.
In related news, the KHS announced in January that the taekwondo training tradition has been selected as a candidate for a potential joint or extended inscription.
The proposed heritage, titled “Taekwondo: A Dojang-centered Korean Training Tradition,” is defined as a unique training culture centered around the “dojang” (training hall), where core values and skills are transmitted from masters to students, ensuring continuity across generations.
The KHS has expressed its hope for a joint inscription of taekwondo with North Korea, mirroring the successful 2018 joint listing of “ssireum,” the traditional Korean wrestling style.
However, North Korea independently submitted its nomination, “Taekwon-Do, Traditional Martial Art in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” in March 2024, which is currently under evaluation.
