Joint Application Planned for UNESCO Seoul’s Cultural Heritage Committee named taekwondo the next candidate for a joint or expanded UNESCO listing and aims to file the formal application by March 2026, coordinating with North Korea’s own 2024 submission [1]. The coordinated move signals a deliberate push for cross‑border cultural cooperation between the two Koreas. Officials highlighted that the bid will showcase taekwondo’s shared heritage while reinforcing diplomatic dialogue.

UNESCO Review Timeline Set for Late 2026 The UNESCO intergovernmental committee’s 21st session in Xiamen, scheduled for Nov 30–Dec 5, will review North Korea’s pending taekwondo nomination and is expected to issue a final decision then [1]. The joint South‑Korean proposal will be evaluated alongside the existing North Korean file. Outcomes from this session will determine whether the sport attains shared inscription.

Potential Second Joint Heritage After Ssireum Approval would make taekwondo the second jointly listed Korean element, following ssireum’s successful inscription in 2018 [1]. This would extend a pattern of collaborative heritage nominations and could set a precedent for future joint cultural projects. Both governments view the listing as a symbol of unified cultural identity.

UNESCO Inventories of Both Koreas Highlight Growth North Korea currently holds five UNESCO items—Arirang, kimchi‑making, ssireum, Pyongyang Raengmyon, and traditional costume knowledge—and taekwondo would become its sixth [1]. South Korea already lists 23 sites and is pursuing new entries for hanji paper production and ginseng culture in upcoming cycles. The expanding inventories underscore each country’s active heritage preservation strategies.