ICHCAP

On Friday, April 11, 2025, the International Conference Commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the UNESCO Joint Inscription of Tugging Rituals and Games was successfully held at the Gijisi Tug-of-War Museum in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, Republic of Korea. Hosted by Dangjin City and organized by ICHCAP, the conference brought together government officials from the four countries involved in the 2015 multinational inscription—Cambodia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and the Republic of Korea—as well as ICH experts and UNESCO Culture Programme Specialists.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Jisung Kim, Director-General of ICHCAP, reflected on the meaningful journey shared by the four countries through the tugging tradition and emphasized the significance of the event as a platform to discuss future collaboration and safeguarding efforts. He also highlighted tug-of-war as a vital expression of community spirit and cooperation in diverse cultural contexts and expressed hope that this occasion would serve as a new starting point for sustainable safeguarding. Mayor Oh Seong-hwan of Dangjin welcomed the international guests, emphasizing the long-standing connection among the four countries through the tugging tradition and expressing gratitude for their presence in Dangjin. Keynote speeches were delivered by Dr. Eric Zerrudo, Executive Director of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines, and H.E. Dr. Chhum Menghong, Director-General of Cultural Affairs at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of Cambodia. Both speakers reflected on the cultural value and legacy of the tug-of-war tradition and shared their perspectives on a decade of collaboration.

The conference featured three dialogue-based sessions exploring the significance of shared heritage and future directions for collaboration.

Session 1, titled “Reflecting on a Decade of Efforts for the Joint Inscription,” was moderated by Ms. Hwang Jihae, Senior Curator at the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage of Korea. Panelists shared their experiences from the nomination process and subsequent safeguarding activities. Speakers included Mr. Ko Daeyoung, Curator at Dangjin City; Dr. Do Thi Thanh Thuy, Head of the Cultural Research Division at the Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Hoin Channara, Deputy Director at Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts; and Mr. Pablo Cuyahon, Councilor of Hungduan Municipality in the Philippines. Each offered vivid accounts of their country’s engagement in the inscription process.

Session 2, “The Significance of Shared Heritage and Multi-Nomination as a UNESCO Initiative,” was moderated by Mr. Kwon Huh, former Director-General of ICHCAP. Mr. Philippe Delanghe, Culture Programme Specialist at the UNESCO Almaty Office, and Ms. Le Hoang Lien, Senior Programme Assistant at the UNESCO Hanoi Office, discussed the role of shared heritage nominations in promoting cultural diversity and fostering international cooperation. Through regional case studies, they emphasized the impact of joint inscriptions on intercultural understanding and dialogue.

Session 3, titled “Shaping the Next 10 Years: Exploring Sustainable Collaborative Efforts,” brought together cultural policy practitioners from the four countries. Moderated by Prof. Kim Hyung-geun of Jeonbuk National University, the session featured insights from Ms. Kim Su-hyun, Deputy Director at the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea; Ms. Chankethya Chey, General Deputy Director at Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts; and Ms. Renee Talavera, Chief of the Program Management Division at the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines. The discussion focused on actionable policy directions and strategies for sustained international collaboration.

The conference served as a meaningful occasion to spotlight the tugging tradition as a model of international cooperation in the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. Open to the public, the event fostered an inclusive environment where policymakers, scholars, community members, and practitioners engaged in open dialogue.

Tugging rituals—rooted in agrarian societies across Asia—symbolize community unity and wishes for abundance. This international conference reaffirmed the cultural significance of tug-of-war and provided a platform to explore sustainable transmission strategies for future generations.

Video highlights from the conference will be available starting in May on ICHCAP’s official YouTube channel.