dolsot bibimbap (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/CCL)
SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Korea Bizwire) – A recent revelation that dolsot bibimbap, a traditional Korean dish, was designated as an intangible cultural heritage in China’s Jilin Province three years ago has sparked controversy and raised concerns about cultural appropriation.
The Jilin Provincial Government approved a total of 65 items as provincial-level intangible cultural heritage in December 2012. Among these items was the cooking method for dolsot bibimbap, listed as “Joseonjok (ethnic Korean) dolsot bibimbap production skills (cooking techniques).” This information only recently came to light through media reports.
Professor Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women’s University highlighted the issue in a Facebook post on September 20. “I immediately searched for dolsot bibimbap on Baidu Encyclopedia and found that it was described as ‘a rice dish unique to the Joseonjok,’” Seo wrote.
This screenshot, taken from the Chinese portal Baidu when searching for dolsot bibimbap, describes the dish as a traditional rice dish of the Joseonjok (ethnic Koreans). (Photo courtesy of Professor Seo Kyoung-duk (via Facebook))
He noted that the first paragraph of the Baidu Encyclopedia entry states, “Dolsot bibimbap is a rice dish unique to the Korean Peninsula as well as the Joseonjok in China’s northeastern provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning.”
Seo pointed out that the term “Joseonjok” was not present when he searched two years ago, suggesting its insertion may be related to the dish’s inclusion in Jilin’s intangible cultural heritage list.
This is not the first instance of China registering Korean culture as its own cultural heritage. According to Seo, in 2008, China designated the Korean farmers’ dance “Nongak” as “Joseonjok Nongak,” a national intangible cultural heritage, and subsequently registered it as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009.
“China will likely continue to appropriate our culture by putting ‘Joseonjok’ in front of items like ‘Joseonjok Nongak’ and ‘Joseonjok dolsot bibimbap,’” Seo warned. “It is urgent that our government prepare countermeasures.”
In response to the media reports about dolsot bibimbap being designated as Chinese cultural heritage, the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea (CHA) issued a statement on September 19, pledging to “systematically manage intangible heritage that requires urgent attention or strengthening of competitiveness.”
The CHA also stated, “We will monitor the designation status of overseas intangible heritage related to our traditional culture,” adding, “When necessary, we will actively pursue preemptive measures such as prioritizing registration as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
