Decision on UNESCO Registration in 2027
(Seoul=News1) Reporter Jeong Soo-young = Modern Korean documents and women’s Hangeul literature are set to challenge for registration as UNESCO Memory of the World.
The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 24th that it submitted the registration applications for the ‘Modern Korean Dictionary Manuscript’ and ‘Naebang Gasa’ to the UNESCO Memory of the World Program on the 21st.
The ‘Modern Korean Dictionary Manuscript’ and ‘Naebang Gasa’ were each selected as candidates for the UNESCO Memory of the World International Register after deliberation by the Korean Committee for the Memory of the World on September 19th. The final decision on their registration will be made during the first half of 2027 at the UNESCO Executive Board meeting held in France, following evaluation by the International Advisory Committee (IAC).
The ‘Modern Korean Dictionary Manuscript’ includes a volume of ‘Malmoi’ (1911-1914) and 18 volumes of the ‘Great Dictionary of the Korean Language’ manuscript (1929-1957). These documents are significant as they resulted from the mother tongue movement aimed at preserving the native language and establishing national identity. They contributed to the transition from Chinese character-centered to Hangeul-centered language usage, literacy eradication, and expanded educational opportunities.
‘Naebang Gasa’, meaning ‘songs sung in women’s quarters’, is unique Hangeul literature transcribed and passed down among women in gatherings. The submitted records for registration include 567 pieces of lyrics created and enjoyed by multiple generations of women from 1794 to the late 1960s. These demonstrate the formation of a literary community by women from various social classes, actively creating and perpetuating literature.
The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, “We plan to continue our active efforts to discover and expand the registration of our documentary heritage as Memory of the World, thereby promoting Korea’s outstanding documentary culture domestically and internationally.”