Establishment of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage system and Strategic Adoption －Focused on China, Japan and South Korea in East Asia－

This study examines two issues: (1) the establishment and development process of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage system, and (2) the process of acceptance and responses among its three major leading countries, For this, the study attempts to summarize the path to Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage first. In particular, it explored the course from ‘Recommendation on the Safeguarding of Traditional Culture and Folklore’ to ‘Living Human Treasures’ to ‘Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity’ and to this convention, organizing the issues raised from it. this study also analyzed discussions of Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage over the registration of Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity to identify the refraction or deterioration of the concept and purpose of the convention in the development process of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage system.Based on those considerations of the establishment and development of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage system, this study examined the course that China, Japan and South Korea in East Asia have tactically accepted the process, and have made their confrontation strategies. Specifically, it critically reviewed what types of economic and political powers behind them have operated as well as how the laws and regulations for Intangible Cultural Heritage have been organized, Moreover, taking into consideration of significant differences between China and Japan in terms of the way of adoption, strategies, and association with folklore, the study provided useful implications for Korea from review of relevant achievements of those countries