By Kim Young Shin

President Moon Jae-in, on a trip to five European countries, held a meeting with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay in Paris on Oct. 16 and discussed the ways Korea and the organization can cooperate to help settle peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Moon said that UNESCO is a partner that contributed to Korea’s development especially in the process of realizing democracy by printing educational textbooks right after the Korean War (1950-1953) and helping the Korean Government rebuild the education system. "In the same way, UNESCO could also provide huge help to North Korea as well," said Moon.

The director-general proposed that the two Koreas work for the joint registration of traditional ssireum wrestling on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

"It would be very meaningful for ssireum to be listed as a part of both South and North Korean heritage, as the two sides have both been working to have it listed as part of the intangible cultural heritage," said President Moon.

The president also mentioned that the two Koreas are working together to withdraw guard posts from the Demilitarized Zone and to eliminate landmines at the border area. He said, “The area would be a great addition to the natural heritage of humanity if it can be designated as a nature reserve.”

“[UNESCO] can help restore the links between peoples through their shared heritage, educational programs and cooperation in natural resource management,” said Director-General Azoulay. “Facilitating, even accelerating, the construction of durable peace on the Korean Peninsula through culture, education and the sciences is both the ambition and core mandate of UNESCO.”

ysk1111@korea.kr