The Korean folk song Arirang was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, according to the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA).
SEOUL-Korea’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage decided to add Arirang to the list of intangible cultural heritage in its seventh meeting at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on December 5, increasing the number of Korean items listed to 15. This year the committee added 16 new elements from around the world including Arirang.
Traditional Korean folk song master Lee Chun-hee, is also the art director at the National Gugak Center. She personally sang Arirang to pay gratitude after Arirang was inscribed in the UNESCO list (photo courtesy of National Gugak Center).
Arirang is a popular Korean folk song, the result of many collective contributions. Essentially a simple song, it consists of the refrain “Arirang, arirang, arariyo” and two simple lines that differ from region to region. While dealing with diverse universal themes, the simple musical and literary composition invites improvisation, imitation, and singalongs.
With Arirang’s addition as intangible cultural heritage, the CHA plans to provide systematic support for passing down the tradition scattered throughout different regions.
The plans contain various ways of promoting Arirang in a way that can live up to the Korean people’s expectations and be utilized as a source for cultural and diplomatic assets. The plans include designating Arirang as an intangible cultural asset, forming Arirang archives, regularly holding Arirang exhibitions, festivals, and concerts, and supporting academic research on Arirang.
In June 2012, the CHA expanded the scope of Arirang for its second application to include all variations and versions in different regions and periods of time instead of applying for inscription with only “Jeongseon Arirang,” a variation sung in the mountainous area of Jeongseon, Gangwon-do (Gangwon Province).
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
