Intangible Cultural Heritage of Korean Ethnic Group in China (Chosunjok) : Current Status of Listing and Relevant Issues

Discussions on Intangible Cultural Heritage of Korean ethnic group in China (hereinafter referred to as “Chosunjok Intangible Heritage”) that take place within South Korea are limited to several elements such as Nongak and Arirang, and fails to fully address even the current status of China’s national or provincial listing of Chosunjok Intangible Heritage. In addition, laws and actual conditions of safeguarding and transmitting Chosunjok Intangible Heritage hardly receive attention. Against this backdrop, this paper will analyze researches on Chosunjok Intangible Heritage and conduct a holistic review on the classification and designation of Chosunjok Intangible Heritage as well as actual conditions of safeguarding, transmission and challenges. This paper is based on two field surveys conducted in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture between 2013 and 2014, existing research outcomes, and laws and regulations of China.Research on Chosunjok Intangible Heritage has been mainly carried out by Chosunjok and Korean researchers. Their subjects include: an overview of Chosunjok Intangible Heritage and in-depth research on single elements; safeguarding and transmission; laws and regulations; and Sino-Korean conflict over the listing of Chosunjok Intangible Heritage. Notably, areas of interest remarkably differ between Korean and Chinese researchers: while Chinese researchers focus on the overview, safeguarding, and transmission of Chosunjok intangible heritages, their Korean counterparts delve into conflicts between the two nations over the listing of Chosunjok Intangible Heritage as world intangible heritage or China’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).Under the topic of actual conditions of safeguarding and transmitting Chosunjok Intangible Heritage, researchers examined the background of discovering and safeguarding Chosunjok Intangible Heritage and the current status of China’s national or provincial listing. Not including Nongak dance, which is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, a total of 18 Chosunjok Intangible Heritage elements have been designated as National ICH, with only two bearers: Kim Myung-chun for Nongak dance; and Kim Su-bong for Chosunjok musical instrument craftsmanship. Ssireum (Korean wrestling) and swing riding are listed as National ICH of China. While both are a part of Danoje festival, the festival itself is not on the National ICH list. This appears to reflect China’s response to the Gangneung Danoje festival of South Korea being listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage: a strong emphasis that Danoje festival belongs to Chinese culture. In addition, regarding the listing of Chosunjok folk dances, while China explains that the Chosunjok are a people skilled in singing and dancing, the folk dances have only been created after the Second World War. There are a total of 73 Chosunjok Intangible Heritage elements listed as Provincial ICH of China, with Jilin Province accounting for a predominant sixty-five. Interestingly, Chuksa and Yutnori are same elements but listed separately and by as many as five different regions, which is the highest number of regions listing a single element. Moreover, Go-stop and Samulnori are also designated as Provincial ICH, which Koreans find perplexing.Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture established an ordinance and an exhibition hall for the safeguarding and transmission of Chosunjok Intangible Heritage. Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture Ordinance on the Safeguarding of Chosunjok Intangible Cultural Heritage officially came into effect on June 10 2015, laying a foundation specifically for the safeguarding and transmission of Chosunjok Intangible Heritage. The Chosunjok Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall opened in the city of Tumen in 2011. It has been contributing to the safeguarding and promotion of Chosunjok Intangible Heritage and is a source of ethnic pride for the Chosunjok, as they have become the first of 55 minorities in China to establish an exhibition hall of this kind.In China, it is taboo to criticize national ICH policies, which is why there is hardly any text critical of Chosunjok Intangible Heritage. Whatever criticism one may find merely raises issues on safeguarding and transmission – the rationale being that safeguarding and transmitting ICH is more important and should come first; criticism, later. ICH elements and bearers have been listed since 2006, however. A decade has already passed and various issues have arisen in listing, safeguarding, and transmission. This paper examines the current status of listing Chosunjok Intangible Heritage and relevant issues from four perspectives: discovery of Chosunjok Intangible Heritage and formation of cultural power; value placed on listing and early listing; sinicization of Chosunjok Intangible Heritage; and weakened foundation for transmission.