Jeju will host this year’s meeting of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Local officials see this as a unique opportunity for the island. Here’s Mike Laidman to explain.




Report

UNESCO added Jeju’s iconic female sea divers, the haenyeo, to its Intangible Cultural Heritage List at the Eleventh Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Ethiopia last year.

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UNESCO’s intergovernmental committee will meet in Jeju

This year, the Intergovernmental Committee is coming to Jeju - the first time the meeting has been held in Korea.

The Cultural Heritage Administration had originally planned to hold the conference in Seoul, but changed venues to Jeju for its natural and cultural values.

The administration announced the unexpected change at the ceremony certifying the haenyeo as a part of UNESCO heritage.

Recording
Na Seon-hwa / Cultural Heritage Administration
Jeju’s nature and “haenyeo’ have been designated UNESCO World Heritage. The island is therefore uniquely suited to host the conference.
<싱크: 나선화/ 문화재청장>
"자연유산도 세계유산으로 되어있죠. 무형유산도 세계유산으로 되어 있죠. 그래서 제주가 최적지라고 생각해서 국제회의 장소를 제주로 결정했습니다."

The event will take place over six days, beginning the third of December.

About 1500 cultural heritage specialists from more than 170 countries, as well as UNESCO officials, will attend the meeting.

UNESCO will determine what will make the Intangible Cultural Heritage List and Humanity and Urgent Safeguarding List over the course of the six days.

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‘Good opportunity for Jeju to show what it has to offer’

The province expects the event to provide opportunities to share Jeju’s nature and culture with international culture specialists.

INTERVIEW
Yi Gi-u / Director, Provincial dept. of marine industries
UNESCO officials and international journalists will meet for six days. It will be a great opportunity to teach them about “haenyeo.” The effect will be equivalent to that of decades-long efforts.
<인터뷰: 이기우/ 道 해양산업과장>
"유네스코 관계자, 각국의 언론인들이 한 장소에 모이게 됩니다. 그래서 우리가 몇십년 동안 각 나라를 다니면서 해녀문화를 홍보하는 효과를 단 5일만에 거둘 수 있다."

UNESCO inspectors will arrive on the island next month to see if Jeju can provide the proper venue for the December meeting.

Additionally, a team supporting the preparation of the international event will be formed within the Cultural Heritage Administration in June.

[Reporter] Mike Laidman
[Camera] Moon Ho-seong

This year’s meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage is expected to be especially meaningful given it will be held on Jeju, recognized for its nature and culture.

Mike Laidman, KCTV