South Korea official expects North Korea to lead UNESCO Taekwondo listing

Heo Min, head of South Korea's National Heritage Administration, announced that North Korea is expected to receive a recommendation for the inscription of its traditional martial art, Taekwondo, on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. North Korea submitted its application in March 2024, and a final decision is expected in December during a meeting in Xiamen, China.

While South Korea also applied for Taekwondo recognition in March 2024, its decision is not scheduled until December 2028. Heo noted that while North Korea may secure its listing first, this does not grant exclusive rights or strip South Korea of its status as the home of Taekwondo.

Efforts to pursue a joint North-South inscription have become effectively impossible due to current inter-Korean relations. Heo expressed regret over the difficulty of achieving a collaborative listing similar to the successful joint inscription of Ssireum wrestling in 2018. The South Korean government intends to continue pursuing either an expanded or independent listing for its own Taekwondo traditions.