A promotional poster highlights a series of traditional Korean performing arts events organized by the Korea Heritage Service. Courtesy of Korea Heritage Service
As the southern port city of Busan prepares to host the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting next month, Korean cultural officials are moving aggressively to position the summit as a premier international stage for the country’s performing arts.
Rather than presenting traditional heritage as static museum artifacts, a pair of major performance initiatives aims to prove that Korea's ancient performance rituals remain a dynamic, living commodity.
The Cultural Heritage Administration announced Monday a dual-track cultural blitz designed to captivate arriving foreign diplomats and international dignitaries.
The centerpiece of the campaign, titled “Intangible Heritage Festival in Busan,” will run from July 20 to 29 at the BEXCO convention center. The festival breaks new ground for the industry by introducing the inaugural "Intangible Heritage Performance Art Market," a trade-fair model featuring 26 showcases aimed at establishing commercial distribution networks for traditional Korean performing arts both domestically and abroad.
