World Intangible Heritage Network (WIN): International Showcase & Forum

△Arirang Culture Connect, Gyeonggi | September 25, 2025

This autumn, from November 18 (Tue) to 23 (Sun), 2025, an international gathering where culture meets innovation will take place in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.

The World Intangible Heritage Network (WIN): International Showcase & Forum (IP-WIN 2025) marks the first occasion in Korea where UNESCO-inscribed intangible heritage performance troupes are brought together on a single stage. More than a festival, it is envisioned as a meaningful platform for exploring how intangible heritage can contribute to sustainable urban development, stimulate local economies, and enhance international standing.

🌍 Event Overview

📌 IP-WIN 2025 Event Overview

Period: November 18 (Tue) – 23 (Sun), 2025

Arrival: November 18(Tue)

Rehearsal: November 19 (Wed), 10:00 AM~

Opening Performance: November 19 (Wed), 5:00–7:00 PM

International Intangible Heritage Performances: November 20 (Thu) – 22 (Sat), two shows daily (3:00 PM and 7:00 PM)

International Forum: November 21 (Fri), 09:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Cultural Excursion: November 23 (Sun)

Departure: November 24 (Mon)

Venue: Performance venues in Suwon (Megabox or Rodeo Art Center)

Theme: Echoes of Living Heritage – Culture, Empathy, and Peace

Hosted by: Bannam Park Clan Association, Advocacy Alliance for Culture Masters, and Culture Masters

Organized by: Hyangdangmu Preservation Society, Culture Masters

In cooperation with: International Cultural Cities Network (ICCN), European Association of Folklore Festivals (EAFF)

Supported by: Suwon City

🤝 UNESCO Intangible Heritage NGO Forum – Culture Masters Collaboration

Dr. SeongYong Park, CEO of Culture Masters, and Tamara Nikolić Đerić, Chair of the UNESCO Intangible Heritage NGO Forum, discussed future collaboration for IP-WIN 2025 and the broader WIN Project.
Both sides agreed to continue consultations to expand the participation of performing groups and experts affiliated with the Forum, while sharing a common vision that extends toward PRE-WIN 2026 and the WIN World Festival in 2028.

🎤 Expert Insights – Prof. Moon-Young Lim (Former Keimyung University, Department of European Studies)

“Opportunities to encounter multiple intangible heritages in one place are rare. Each tradition embodies not just artistic expression but the distilled memory and wisdom of communities. This showcase and forum will be a unique moment to deepen our understanding of cultural roots and to connect cities with the wider world.”

He further underscored:

“Culture is an asset for the future, and intangible heritage is the most vital language linking urban development with international exchange.”

🎭 A Celebration of World Intangible Heritage

On stage will be (tentatively):

Korea: Arirang, Nongak (farmers’ percussion)

Vietnam: Ca Trù chamber singing

Mongolia: Khoomei throat singing, Biyelgee dance

Kazakhstan: Dombra music, Orteke puppet performance

India: Mudiyettu ritual theatre

Each performance will present myths, oral epics, rituals, and arts that affirm intangible heritage as a living language of global community.

The event also serves as a launching point for the WIN international project, extending to PRE-WIN 2026 and culminating in WIN 2028. It aims to rediscover humanity’s shared memory and identity, ensuring their creative transmission into future generations and community life.

🧭 Toward Sustainable Cities and International Hubs

The International Forum will focus on two themes:

Intangible Heritage and Urban Sustainability

Lineages of Heritage and Community Resilience

These discussions will reaffirm intangible heritage as not merely preservation of tradition but as a vital driver of urban innovation and sustainable development.

📌 Key Program Highlights – IP-WIN 2025