Korean Farmers' Music Added to UNESCO Heritage List

Nongak or traditional farmers' music has been added to UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage list.

Nongak is the 17th tradition in Korea to be listed. Others include royal ancestral rites, traditional narrative songs called pansori, a 5,000-year-old dance known as ganggangsullae, and "Arirang," a traditional folk song.

UNESCO said the music is characterized by "independence, openness and creativity and has served to provide a cultural identity to both performers and audiences."

Six North Korean versions of "Arirang" were also listed, the first time North Korean intangible cultural assets have been included.

The South Korean versions of the folk song were listed in 2012.

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