Intangible cultural identity politics and cross-border communities in China and South Korea

This paper aims to explore the cultural wars concerning the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) shared between the heritage communities in the People's Republic of China (PRC) and South Korea (SK). Since the international recognition of ICH in 2003 with the UNESCO Convention for the safeguarding of ICH, PRC and SK have strongly supported the recognition, safeguarding, management, and promotion of ICH at the national level. On the other side, at the international level, they are pushing through public diplomacy their own traditional culture by sponsoring various activities, exhibitions, collaborations, and projects.

The focus of this presentation will be Nongak. This tradition is a popular performing art transmitted in the Korean community living in North-East China and a living tradition in SK, too, since at least the three Kingdoms period (57 BC to 668 AD). It comprises dances, songs and religious activities related to harvesting and farming. It was brought to China by the end of the 19th century from the neighbouring Korean peninsula and, since then, developed peculiar traits to be distinguished from its Korean relatives. These performances were registered in the 2003 UNESCO list by PRC and SK separately, respectively, in 2009 and 2014. Why were they inscribed separately? What is the role of the State and the international organizations in the appropriation of ICH, and where do the heritage communities position themselves? Is there a cultural appropriation based on identity politics? These are the few questions the presentation will try to answer.