Two nation combine forces to list ssireum, a type of traditional wrestling, with the UN for the first time, in further sign of rapprochement
North and South Korea have for the first time jointly proposed registering cultural practices with the United Nations, amid an ongoing atmosphere of reconciliation between the once hostile neighbours.
The two countries have combined their bids to list ssireum, a type of traditional Korean wrestling, as intangible cultural heritage with Unesco, the United Nations cultural organisation. The official name will be listed at “Traditional Korean Wrestling (Ssirum/Ssireum)”, with the North Korean transcription appearing first.
Audrey Azoulay, Unesco’s director general, worked to convince the two Koreas to combine their applications and described the move as an “unprecedented result”.
“It reminds us the central role played by cultural heritage in tightening the links, as an emotional hyphen between peoples,” she said.
While it is common for countries to jointly submit bids for the list – such as the “mediterranean diet” or falconry – the two Koreas have typically been in competition for adding new items.
