{
  "id": 18083235,
  "title": "Joint registration of taekwondo in order",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/joint-registration-of-taekwondo-in-order",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-04T07:12:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/editorial/20261104/ed-joint-registration-of-taekwondo-in-order"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korea, the global champion of taekwondo, has discovered that North Korea has already submitted an application for the sport's inclusion on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The Korean Republic of North is set to submit its application for Taekwon-Do in March 2024. The final decision on the registration will be made at the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage meeting in Xiamen, China, from November 30 to December 5.\n\nIf the North's application is approved, South Korea may find itself in a difficult position, potentially needing to register taekwondo independently. However, there is a precedent for joint registration of cultures, as both Koreas successfully worked together to register ssireum, a traditional Korean wrestling form, on the UNESCO list in 2018.\n\nWith the Xiamen meeting just one month away, South Korea should consider reviving the collaboration strategy. It is essential that the two Koreas work together to ensure their shared martial art is registered on the UNESCO list.",
  "summary": "South Korea, which globally popularized the martial art form of taekwondo, is waking up to find North Korea has already moved to register the sport on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List. A technical advisory body is soon expected to recommend registration of \"Taekwon-Do, traditional martial art in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea\" for North Korea's solo application, submitted in…",
  "key_points": [
    "North Korea submitted taekwondo application to UNESCO in March 2024.",
    "South Korea may need to register taekwondo independently if approved.",
    "South Korea and North Korea successfully registered ssireum together in 2018."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Cooperation between the two Koreas on this application offers a way to protect their shared martial art heritage and avoid a diplomatic struggle over individual registration claims.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}