Lost heritage diplomacy: China and South Korea in the UNESCO nominations of nongak and nongyuewu

This thesis investigates the role of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage as a site of both cooperation and contestation in East Asia, with particular focus on cultural interactions between China and South Korea. While the Convention was conceived as a framework to promote dialogue, mutual respect, and transnational collaboration, this research argues that, in practice, it may also function as a repository of unresolved political tensions. By examining the inscription processes and diplomatic dynamics surrounding shared cultural practices, the study introduces the concept of “lost heritage diplomacy” and "heritage off diplomacy" to describe situations in which heritage governance mechanisms fail to facilitate cooperation and instead intensify competition among states. The research adopts an interdisciplinary approach, combining international relations theory, heritage studies, and qualitative case study analysis. It critically engages with existing literature on cultural and heritage diplomacy, arguing that these frameworks are insufficient to fully capture the complex dynamics emerging within UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage system. Rather than serving as a tool of attraction or mutual understanding, heritage in this context becomes embedded in state-driven strategies of representation, recognition, and legitimacy on the international stage. The core empirical focus of the thesis is the case of Nongak (South Korea) and Nongyuewu (China), two closely related traditions with shared historical roots but divergent contemporary trajectories. Through an analysis of nomination files, UNESCO documentation, and policy frameworks, the study demonstrates how these practices have been recontextualized within national heritage regimes and mobilized to support competing narratives of cultural ownership and identity. Particular attention is given to the role of the Korean minority in China, whose cultural expressions are situated at the intersection of transnational identity, state governance, and international recognition. The findings reveal structural limitations within the UNESCO system, including the state-centric nature of nominations, the absence of effective mechanisms to encourage multinational cooperation, and the symbolic value attached to inscription. These factors contribute to a competitive environment in which shared heritage is often fragmented along national lines. The thesis argues that such dynamics challenge the Convention’s foundational principles and call for a critical reassessment of its operational framework. By conceptualizing UNESCO as an “arena” rather than a neutral platform, this research contributes to broader debates on heritage governance and international cultural politics. It highlights the need to move beyond normative assumptions about the inherently cooperative nature of intangible cultural heritage and to recognize its potential as a site of geopolitical negotiation and competitiveness. Ultimately, the study offers both a theoretical contribution, through the notion of lost heritage diplomacy, as well as the application of Lee and Huang "heritage off diplomacy" terminology to ICH, with the creation of the ICH Diplomacy Processual Model helping to trace the transformation of an ICH item, once inscribed inside the UNESCO list.