Presentation Title

Imagined UNESCO Convention: a UNESCO influence on local practitioners and communities

Abstract

The UNESCO’s 2003 Convention emphasizes the importance of collective identity for the safeguarding of ICH. Communities are thus supposed to have key roles in recognizing their traditions as intangible cultural heritage. Community participation is regarded as necessary factor in the nomination of a community’s cultural expression to the UNESCO’s Representative Lists of ICH. While the role of ICH communities is central to understanding of what the UNESCO Convention is, it is truly a new idea in Korea with respect to its protection policy on ICH. Korea has a well-established, half century-long history of protection initiatives on ICH; however, the Korean protection policy is different from that of the UNESCO Convention in its philosophy and goals. The Korean policy focuses on proficiency and supremacy in artistic and skill performance of individuals or groups who are known to be masters and human treasures. Given this difference, the UNESCO’s community centered imperatives have confused the Korean government, practitioners, and even scholars. The Korean protection system was taken aback by UNECO’s initiatives. Nevertheless, Korea began to adopt the UNESCO Convention and implemented a new law for ICH protection in 2016. It can be said that a certain type of superficial progress towards aligning with the UNESCO’s philosophy has been made, but yet, in reality, the previous system of protection in Korea still lingers. This disconnect is illustrated by the case of ‘tea making’ which was first designated as national intangible cultural property, but without selecting any masters in tea making. The government recognizes tea making as a collective cultural identity of its communities concerned; however, it is clear that the previously implemented standards of assessment such as authenticity, originality, and supremacy are still being used even in the new designation process. Not only that but also local practitioners themselves are not content with the new protection system but have reluctantly accepted it. Some comfort is drawn from the belief in that they are taking a step towards being places on the UNESCO ICH lists.

Biography

Hahm Hanhee, professor in the Department of Archeology and Anthropology in Chonbuk National University has recently opened a graduate program of Intangible Cultural Heritage Study. Prof. Hahm is now involved in several research projects including ‘Making intangible cultural heritage platform (ICHPEDIA),’ ‘Studies on local ICH communities and craftsmen in the area of Jeolla Province’ and ‘Collecting people’s oral histories.’ Her recent academic contribution is shown on the editorship of the book, The Understanding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Korea. Prof. Hahm earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in the Department of Anthropology, Columbia University, USA. Prof. Hahm is currently Director of the Center for Intangible Culture.