(LEAD) UNESCO likely to list traditional Korean paper 'hanji' as cultural heritage

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(ATTN: ADDS photos, details throughout, byline) By Lee Minji

SEOUL, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- The knowledge and skills associated with the production of "hanji," or traditional Korean paper, are likely to be added to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage.

In a document released Wednesday (France time), UNESCO said its deliberative body has categorized "traditional knowledge and skills associated with the production of hanji, traditional Korean paper, and related cultural practices in the Republic of Korea" as recommended for inscription. The Republic of Korea is South Korea's official name.

"Hanji plays an important role in the daily life and cultural practices of the communities concerned, as it is widely used for writing, printing, crafts, household and ritual objects," it said.

This file photo, provided by the Korea Heritage Service, shows the process of making "hanji," or traditional Korean paper. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

The tradition of hanji, paper made from the bark of mulberry trees, runs for about a thousand years, and the meticulous handcrafting skills of hanji masters have been passed down through generations.

Currently, four artisans are recognized by the Korea Heritage Service as hanji-making masters.

The process of making hanji not only involves the skills and knowledge of the hanji masters but brings together a community in the process of cutting, steaming, boiling and peeling the bark of mulberry trees.

"Its production is based on cooperation, shared responsibility and care for the natural environment," UNESCO said. "The practice facilitates knowledge transmission and strengthens community identity through collaboration and public events."

The traditional paper has evolved over time, with hanji not only used for writing but also as a material for eco-friendly building, household products and artistic works.

This file photo, provided by the Korea Heritage Service, shows "hanji," or traditional Korean paper. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Meanwhile, the deliberative body also categorized North Korea's application for listing the traditional martial art and combat sport of taekwondo as recommended for inscription.

North Korea submitted a solo bid to inscribe taekwondo in 2024, a move that South Korea followed this year.

While there had been hopes that taekwondo would be listed as a joint inter-Korean heritage, as "ssireum," or traditional wrestling, had been jointly inscribed in 2018, the possibility appears to be low.

Earlier this week, Huh Min, the administrator of Seoul's state heritage service, wrote in a social media post that he regrets that a joint inscription is unlikely given many conditions, including inter-Korean ties.

Expanding the inscription of taekwondo to include South Korea or filing a separate application is expected to take time, given that the former would require consultations with Pyongyang.

This Oct. 3, 2026, file photo shows a taekwondo match between South Korea's Song Da-bin (L) competing against China's Mu Wenzhe in the women's 67-kilogram taekwondo final at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. (Yonhap)

A final decision on the inscription is expected between Nov. 30 and Dec. 5, when the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage meets in the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen.

Applications for the list fall into three categories: "inscribe," "refer" and "not to inscribe." Items recommended for inscription generally tend to be adopted by the committee as part of humanity's intangible cultural heritage.

If inscribed, the tradition of hanji-related knowledge and skills would become South Korea's 24th entry on the UNESCO list, which already includes ancestral royal rites, a percussion instrument performance known as "pansori" and the 5,000-year-old dance "ganggangsullae."

The last intangible cultural heritage in South Korea to earn UNESCO heritage status was the culture of making "jang," a traditional Korean fermented soybean-based condiment that forms the foundation of many Korean dishes, in 2024.

For North Korea, taekwondo will be its sixth intangible cultural heritage on the list, should it be inscribed.

mlee@yna.co.kr (END)

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(LEAD) UNESCO likely to list traditional Korean paper 'hanji' as cultural heritage

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

（注：全文新增照片、细节及署名）李敏智

首尔，11月5日（韩联社）——与韩国传统纸张“韩纸”的生产相关的知识和技能很可能被列入联合国教科文组织非物质文化遗产名录。

联合国教科文组织周三（法国时间）发布的一份文件显示，其审议机构已将“与韩国传统纸张韩纸的生产相关的传统知识和技能以及相关文化习俗”列入世界遗产名录建议名单。韩国的正式名称为大韩民国。

“韩纸在相关社区的日常生活和文化习俗中扮演着重要角色，因为它被广泛用于书写、印刷、工艺品、家居用品和祭祀用品，”声明中写道。

这张由韩国文化遗产服务处提供的资料照片展示了韩纸（韩国传统纸张）的制作过程。（照片不得出售）（韩联社）

用桑树皮制成的韩纸的传统工艺已有约一千年的历史，韩纸大师们精湛的手工技艺也代代相传。

目前，韩国文化遗产服务中心认定有四位工匠为韩纸制作大师。

制作韩纸的过程不仅需要韩纸师傅的技能和知识，还需要社区成员共同参与切割、蒸煮、水煮和剥去桑树皮的过程。

联合国教科文组织表示：“它的生产以合作、共同责任和对自然环境的保护为基础。这种做法通过合作和公共活动促进知识传播，并增强社区认同感。”

随着时间的推移，传统纸张发生了演变，韩纸不仅用于书写，还被用作环保建筑、家居用品和艺术作品的材料。

这张由韩国文化遗产服务处提供的资料照片显示的是“韩纸”，即韩国传统纸张。（照片非卖品）（韩联社）

与此同时，审议机构还将朝鲜申请将跆拳道这一传统武术和格斗运动列入世界遗产名录的申请列为推荐列入。

朝鲜单独提交了跆拳道于 2024 年列入世界纪录的申请，韩国今年也采取了同样的行动。

虽然曾有人希望跆拳道能被列为韩朝共同文化遗产，因为“摔跤”（韩语：ssireum）已于 2018 年被共同列入遗产名录，但这种可能性似乎很低。

本周早些时候，首尔国家文物局局长许敏在社交媒体上发帖称，鉴于包括韩朝关系在内的诸多条件，他遗憾地表示，联合列入世界遗产名录的可能性不大。

将跆拳道列入世界纪录需要与平壤进行磋商，因此，将跆拳道列入世界纪录或单独提交申请预计都需要时间。

这张摄于2026年10月3日的资料照片显示，在2026年爱知-名古屋亚运会女子67公斤级跆拳道决赛中，韩国选手宋多彬（左）与中国选手慕文哲展开角逐。（韩联社）

预计将于 11 月 30 日至 12 月 5 日期间，在位于中国东南部的厦门市举行的保护非物质文化遗产政府间委员会会议上，对该项申报做出最终决定。

申请列入名录的项目分为三类：“列入”、“参考”和“不列入”。建议列入名录的项目通常会被委员会采纳为人类非物质文化遗产的一部分。

如果被列入世界遗产名录，与韩纸相关的知识和技能传统将成为韩国在联合国教科文组织名录上的第 24 个条目，该名录已经包括祖先的皇家仪式、名为“盘索里”的打击乐器表演和拥有 5000 年历史的舞蹈“江江水来”。

韩国最后一个获得联合国教科文组织世界遗产地位的非物质文化遗产是“酱”的制作文化，这是一种传统的韩国发酵大豆调味品，是许多韩国菜肴的基础，该文化于 2024 年获得联合国教科文组织世界遗产地位。

如果跆拳道被列入名录，它将成为朝鲜第六项非物质文化遗产。

mlee@yna.co.kr (完)

韩国和法国第一夫人参观巴黎韩纸艺术展

（第二部分）更多韩国潮间带被列入联合国教科文组织世界遗产名录

（第二届LD）世界遗产代表齐聚釜山参加联合国教科文组织委员会会议

韩国将在釜山联合国教科文组织大会期间展示国家遗产

韩国申请将人参和跆拳道传统列入联合国教科文组织世界遗产名录

（新闻快讯）联合国教科文组织或将韩国传统纸张“韩纸”列入文化遗产名录