By Kim Eun-young and Kim Young Shin

Ssireum (traditional Korean wrestling) from the Korean Peninsula became the first joint item on the UNESCO heritage list from the two Koreas.

The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on Nov. 26 that “the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage decided to inscribe traditional Korean wrestling ssireum, from both South and North Korea, on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at its 13th session in Mauritius.”

The official name on the list is “Traditional Korean Wrestling, Ssirum/Ssireum.” In the match, the wrestlers grab the satba (fabric belt, 샅바) wrapped around the opponent’s waist and one thigh and try to knock the opponent down by using strength and techniques. Records of the sport is found in many artifacts, documents and drawings from the Three Kingdoms of Korea (57 B.C –A.D. 668)

“Different regions have developed variants of ssireum based on their specific backgrounds, but they all share the common social function of ssireum—enhancing community solidarity and collaboration,” said the committee.

“The fact that both Koreas accepted to join their respective application is unprecedented,” said Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay. ”The joint inscription marks a highly symbolic step on the road to inter-Korean reconciliation.”

President Moon Jae-in praised the inscription as the fruit of inter-Korean cooperation. “Promoting the excellence and uniqueness of Korea’s cultural heritage will be easier if the two Koreas work on it together,” said the president on his Facebook.

Previously, South Korea had submitted ssireum to UNESCO in 2016 and North Korea, in 2015. President Moon discussed the joint listing of the traditional sport with Director-General Azoulay during his visit to Paris in October. The two Koreas agreed to merge the initially separate applications for the inscription following the organization’s mediation.

Ssireum is the 20th South Korean item on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and the 3rd for the North.

eykim86@korea.kr