Jeju's women divers 'Haenyeo' to be possibly listed as UNESCO Cultural Heritage.

Jeju's women divers 'Haenyeo' to be possibly listed as UNESCO Cultural Heritage.

Women divers on Korea's resort island of Jeju, or "Haenyeo," are likely to be registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO, the Cultural Heritage Administration said.

Jeju's women divers 'Haenyeo' 

 

The Korean government agency disclosed that the Evaluation Body of UNESCO, which evaluates the nominations to the lists, suggested the Korean culture be "inscribed," raising the possibility that it can become the country's 19th cultural heritage registered by the global organization. The Evaluation Body's suggestions are hardly ever rejected.

 

UNESCO said the culture shows the true colors of cultural diversity of the local community and has high value as intangible cultural heritage considering its generations-old ceremony wishing for safety and good harvest, the handing down of diving know-how through the generations and various activities based on proceeds they make together to promote social cohesion.

 

It added that the culture also reminds people of the importance of females being included in the workforce and encourages communication with other communities that have a similar culture.

 

The final decision is expected to be  made during the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage scheduled to be held from Nov. 26-Dec. 2 in Addis Abada, Ethiopia.

 

In 2016,  the body evaluated 37 lists, among which 18 cases were recommended to be inscribed.

 

Korea has been listed 18 times on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO, including the royal ancestral ritual in the Jongmyo shrine and its music, Pansori epic chant, the Gangneung Danoje festival, and the annual practice of making and sharing Kimchi for the winter, known as "Gimjang."

 

Korea to ease visa issuance for Southeast Asians to cope with THAAD fallout

Korea to ease visa issuance for Southeast Asians to cope with THAAD fallout

 

Korean government disclosed it will start allowing the issuance of an electronic visa to Southeast Asian tourists from early May as part of efforts to help the local tourism industry reeling from China's ban on group trip sales to South Korea.

Tourists in Jeju Island

 

Local tourism is taking the brunt of a string of trade restrictions by Beijing that came in as an apparent revenge against Seoul's stationing of a US anti-missile defense system, or the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense on its soil. China has strongly objected to it, saying that its powerful radar will be used to monitor its own military.

 

Since March 15, all group tour sales to Korea have been banned, with Chinese cruises no longer making stopovers at local ports in Korea. The tourism industry is on the brink of losing more than half of its Chinese visitors, who make up the bulk of foreigners' spending here.

 

In a bid to stave off the economic fallout from the THAAD row, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it will prompten the date for allowing electronic visas for tourist groups from Southeast Asia to May. It was initially planned to start in the latter half of this year.

 

The ministry said it will also allow a five-day no-visa entry for Jeju-bound Southeast Asian tourist groups who transfer at the Incheon or Gimhae airport, to provide them a chance to visit Seoul or cities in the country's southern areas.

 

It said efforts are underway to encourage local airlines to expand routes bound for Southeast Asia and Japan, while seeking to pave the way for the airlines to boost partnerships with their counterparts in the Philippines, Taiwan and Mongolia.

 

For those struggling from the Chinese trip ban, such as travel agencies and tour bus operators, the government will set aside a combined 225 billion won ($200.2 billion) in special loans and guarantees to help them deal with financial problems, the ministry said.