Our History

ICHCAP promotes the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and contributes to its implementation in the Asia-Pacific region.  

• 2022

  Mr. Ji Sung KIM took office as the fourth Director-General in January

• 2021

  ICHCAP Sejong Office opened ichLinks platform official online service in March

• 2020

  Number of statutory employees increased · Hosted ICH-themed Webinar Series (MOOC, 4^th World ICH Forum, Higher Education, etc.) · Initiated Building ichLinks, Asia-Pacific ICH Information-Sharing Platform · Launched Preparatory Office for the International Centre for the Interpretation and Presentation of World Heritage Sites under the auspices of UNESCO (WHIPIC)

• 2019

  · The Agreement between UNESCO and the Government of the Republic of Korea renewed for a second 6-year term
  · Mr. Gi Hyung KEUM took office as the third Director-General in January · Hosted the 3^rd World ICH Forum · Published the 10^th Anniversary Issue of the ICH Courier

• 2018

  · Established the Asia-Pacific Higher Education Network for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (APHEN-ICH)

• 2017

  · Hosted the 1^st UNESCO Capacity-building Workshop for ICH Safeguarding in the Republic of Korea (Annually) · Published the first volume of the Living Heritage Series

• 2016

  · Approved the Five-year Programs and Strategies of ICHCAP (2017-2021) · Hosted the Forum on ICH and Museums

• 2015

  Mr. Kwon HUH took office as the second Director-General in April · Initiated Production of Documentary Videos on Asia-Pacific ICH Elements · Hosted the 1^st Sub-regional Networking Meeting for ICH Safeguarding in South Asia

• 2014

  ICHCAP Office relocated from Daejeon to Jeonju in May · Hosted the 1^st Asia-Pacific ICH NGO Conference (Biennially) · Hosted the 1^st Sub-regional Networking Meeting for ICH Safeguarding in Northeast Asia

• 2013

  · Initiated Joint Collaboration for Safeguarding ‘Tugging Rituals and Games’ in East Asia and Korea

• 2012

  Dr. Samuel LEE took office as the first Director-General in January · Joined the Cultural Partnership Initiatives (CPI) Program · Hosted the 1^st Sub-regional Networking Meeting for ICH Safeguarding in Southeast Asia

• 2011

  ICHCAP officially established as the first UNESCO Category 2 Centre in the cultural heritage field of the Republic of Korea in July · Hosted an International Conference on ‘Regional Collaboration for Safeguarding ICH in Asia and the Pacific: Tasks and Strategies’ · Initiated Digitization of ICH-related Analogue Audiovisual Resources

• 2010

  The Agreement between UNESCO and the Government of the Republic of Korea for the Establishment of ICHCAP officially endorsed in June by cabinet approval and presidential sanction · Hosted the 1^st Sub-regional Networking Meeting for ICH Safeguarding in the Pacific and Central Asia

• 2009

  The establishment of ICHCAP was approved at the 35th UNESCO General Conference in October · Published the first issue of the ICH Courier · Hosted an International Conference on ‘Information & Networking for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage’

• 2006

  Establishment Initiative for the Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre for Asia-Pacific (EIICHCAP) initiated by Republic of Korea in September