The Unreconciled Dichotomy: Preservation and (Re)Creation of Dance Heritage in South Korea

This study explores controversies surrounding the application of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) policies to Korean traditional dance. In grappling with the emergent debates about ICH, I focus on how Korean dancers conceive of their own practices. Informed by the perspectives of practitioners, I argue that conflicts surrounding the Korean ICH system stem from the contrasting legal frameworks of collective ownership and intellectual property rights. The tensions within the ICH framework put Korean traditional dance professionals in the challenging role of negotiating between cultural preservation and artistic innovation.