Safeguarding of Traditional Performing Arts as ICH Assets: With Special Reference to ICH Safeguarding Practices in South Korea .

Abstract

t Performing arts is considered as one of the major domains of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). Each country has its own performing arts tradition such as folk song and poetry, folk dancing, folk drama, folk festivals and folk theater. As results of globalization and westernization many of cultural practices have become standardized and many traditional practices are abandoned. In this context many forms of performing arts are highly susceptible to becoming extinct in near future. South Korea is one of the few nations worldwide with a long history of institutions for cultural heritage safeguarding. Many institutions of South Korea have taken charge of transmission, promotion, education, documenting and archiving ICH elements in consideration of their domains and characteristics. Those organizations are working collaboratively with each and many other ICH stakeholders such as government and non-governmental organizations, education institutions, ICH holders, community people as well as foreign and International organizations in the safeguarding process of traditional performing arts. Study revealed that transmission, promotion and enhancement, education, training, research, and preservation and reproduction are most popular measures taken for the safeguarding of traditional performing arts of South Korea. Organizing of cultural exchange and experience program, conduct and support and monitoring for education and training program, organizing various performances and exhibitions, collecting and documentation of related information through research and publication, conservation and preservation of those information in specific museums, maintaining archives and online databases are the common activities performed to ensure the prevalence of traditional performing arts of South Korea as their ICH assets.