Yoon launches Korea Heritage Service to promote national heritage globally

By Lee Haye-ah

SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- President Yoon Suk Yeol launched the renamed government agency for cultural heritage matters on Friday, saying the focus will expand from preserving cultural assets to further developing and spreading them.

Under new laws, the Cultural Heritage Administration has been renamed the Korea Heritage Service, while the term "cultural property," referring to historic relics, has been replaced by "national heritage."

"Beyond protecting inherited heritages, we will instill new value and vitality in the relics and intangible heritages unique to the Korean people," Yoon said during a ceremony launching the Korea Heritage Service at the government complex in Daejeon, 139 kilometers south of Seoul.

"We will spread our national heritage across the world and expand cultural communication with the 8 billion people of the world to make the Republic of Korea a truly global pivotal state for culture," he said, referring to South Korea by its formal name.

The government will use a new classification system composed of three categories: cultural heritage, natural heritage and intangible heritage.

Previously, cultural assets were divided into the four categories of tangible cultural heritage, intangible cultural heritage, monuments and folk cultural properties.

"The eligibility and scope of the concept of national heritage will be greatly expanded," Yoon said, noting intangible heritages will not be limited to the preservation and teaching of skills, but encompass all the customs, folklore and festivals unique to the Korean people.

hague@yna.co.kr
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