북한의 무형문화유산 정책 동향 연구

Abstract

Expectations for inter-Korean cultural exchange have increased since the PanmunjomDeclaration in 2018. But the inter-Korean relations are in a stalemate, it is difficult to carryout projects right now. At the end of the nuclear negotiations, it is expected that exchangesand cooperation between the two Koreas will be activated in the field of intangible culturalheritage(ICH). This study aims to examine how the ICH policies in North Korea is being promoted. It is oneof the preparations for the promotion of inter-Korean exchange cooperation in the field ofICH. Since fieldwork is not possible in North Korea, this study was conducted using the publiclyavailable literatures. Therefore, this study focused on the outline of North Korea's ICH policy. North Korea has been very active in its national efforts for the safeguarding of ICH since itsjoining of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008. Thecultural heritage policy direction of the country expanded its focus from Itangible heritage,which includes relics and remains, to include ICH. In 2012, the Cultural Heritage PreservationAct was established to lay a legal foundation for ICH policy. In 2015, the National HeritagePreservation Act was established, which was amended in 2019, offering an institutionalframework for policy implementation regarding ICH as ‘immaterial heritage’. In April 2019,Article 41 of the Socialist Constitution was modified to remove the wording ‘revivalism’ fromthe text, among other modifications, to further clarify the direction for ICH safeguarding policy. The maintenance of the legal system was followed by the identification and registration ofICH elements, led by the national heritage preservation agency. As of 2018, 108 elements wereregistered as ‘national immaterial heritage’ and 13 elements were listed as ‘local immaterialheritage’. Besides, there are various projects to introduce and disseminate the identified ICH. Theelements are introduced vis mass media, such as broadcasting and newspaper, and alsopresented to the general public through exhibitions, contests and events. As such, North Korea is actively implementing its ICH safeguarding policy. It is thus expectedto see more diverse exchange and cooperation between South Korea and North Korea in thefield of ICH.