Examples and Features of UNESCO’s ‘Olding Tradition and Expression’ Items

This paper is based on examples and features of the UNESCO-registered oral tradition and expression items. Korea’s intangible heritage law was maintained as a center of talent when it was enacted in the 1960s. A new forum is being called for after the passage of the law on the preservation and promotion of new intangible cultural assets in 2015. In particular, the ‘old tradition and expression’ covered by the main body is a new area that cannot be explained by existing categories. The main building is an overview of the existing items listed in UNESCO, considering the characteristics of oral tradition and expression items. For this purpose, 121 items were extracted from the official UNESCO site through keyword search. A summary of the individual items was checked and the primary sortation table was presented. This has led to the fact that oral tradition and expression are the building blocks of space, singing, instrumental production, drama and social system. Afterwards, we presented representative items that were helpful for the items of oral tradition in our country and compiled the following features. First, oral tradition and expression form the basis of all areas. Second, oral tradition is an inheritance designed to live from a life that adapts to a given environment.Third, oral tradition embodies collective values and is actively implemented in places that are ‘divorced into a divine space’. Fourth, the oral tradition continues to develop and decline amid tensions to secure “space.” The features presented in the main building are limited to generalization. This is because the orientation of the main body is primarily focused on searching for and classifying oral and expressive items. A more detailed item check and detailed analysis is committed to the future.