Arirang Culture Connect, Pyeongtaek | September 3, 2025

From November 10 to 13, 2025, Pyeongtaek City in Gyeonggi Province and the surrounding metropolitan region will host a historic international event that marks a new chapter in cultural diplomacy and peacebuilding.

The UNESCO Intangible Heritage Invitational Performance & International Forum (IP-WIN 2025) will bring together traditional performing groups from around the world, creating a global stage where intangible heritage becomes a vital resource for envisioning sustainable urban development and fostering international cooperation. Far beyond a series of performances, the event highlights intangible heritage as a living asset for shaping the future of humanity.

Night View of Pyeongtaek Port

🌍 Organizers and Cooperation Network

Venue: Pyeongtaek Cultural Foundation (Performance Hall and Conference Rooms)

Organizers: UNESCO ICH NGO Forum (tentative), the Society for the Promotion of Korean Traditional Music, and Culture Masters (joint)

Co-organizers: Pyeongtaek Nongak Preservation Society (tentative), Anseong Hyangdangmu Preservation Society, and Culture Masters (joint)

Support (expected): Pyeongtaek City, Pyeongtaek Cultural Foundation

Lim Woong-soo, head of the Gwangmyeong Nongak Preservation Society and concurrently vice director of the Society for the Promotion of Korean Traditional Music

Lim Woong-soo, head of the Gwangmyeong Nongak Preservation Society and concurrently vice director of the Society for the Promotion of Korean Traditional Music, remarked:

“This UNESCO Intangible Heritage Invitational Performance is a meaningful celebration that brings together the intangible heritage of humanity and Korean traditional music. It also serves as a valuable opportunity for regional culture to be spotlighted on an international stage, while contributing to the city’s future development strategies.”

Dr. Tamara Nikolić Đerić, Chair of the UNESCO ICH NGO Forum

🤝 A Stage for Strategic International Cooperation
Dr. SeongYong Park, President of Culture Masters, and Dr. Tamara Nikolić Đerić, Chair of the UNESCO ICH NGO Forum, recently discussed opportunities for close collaboration in relation to IP-WIN 2025 and the future WIN Project series. Both parties agreed on the importance of expanding opportunities for the participation of performers and experts from the Forum’s global network of NGOs.

They also confirmed that IP-WIN 2025 is not merely a single event, but the starting point of a multi-year global initiative that will lead to PRE-WIN 2026 and the WIN World Festival 2028, where dozens of countries will participate in a grand stage of cultural diplomacy and cooperation.

🌍 Tentative Participating Countries & Heritage Elements

Country Heritage Element Mythical/Narrative Significance

Vietnam Ca Trù Chamber music interwoven with philosophical poetry.

Peru Latin Peru Ensemble Indigenous and mestizo musical traditions rich in oral history.

Korea Nongak, Minyo and Hyangdangmu-Traditional Dance.

Mongolia Biyelggye / Khoomei & Ritual DanceThroat singing and sacred dance evoking harmony with nature.

Kyrgyzstan Epic of Manas One of the world’s longest epics, central to Kyrgyz cultural identity.

Kazakhstan Dombra & Orteke A musical-puppetry folk tradition expressing humor and rhythm.

🔹 UNESCO Intangible Heritage NGO Forum
The Forum is an international network supporting the implementation of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. With more than 260 accredited NGOs from over 170 countries, it plays an active role in the evaluation of nominations, policy advice, and international cooperation. It serves as a global civil society platform for safeguarding and transmitting intangible heritage.

🔹 Culture Masters
Culture Masters is an international cultural organization that identifies and supports communities and practitioners of intangible heritage worldwide. Through performances, education, and digital platforms, it promotes the dissemination of traditional knowledge and living culture. The organization leads innovative initiatives such as the WIN Project, Arirang Masters, and ichmasters, establishing itself as a model for global cooperation in the cultural field.

🎭 Myth and Meaning: A Global Stage of Narratives
Traditional performing groups from eight countries, including Korea, Vietnam, Peru, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the United Arab Emirates, and Botswana (tentative), will participate in IP-WIN 2025. They will present performances of mythology, oral traditions, and ritual heritage.

The opening performance will combine Pyeongtaek’s local intangible heritage with international storytelling traditions, offering a vivid demonstration of the power of intangible heritage to connect body, memory, and myth.

🧭 Urban Strategies and Cultural Diplomacy
On November 13, an international forum will be held under the themes of “Intangible Heritage and Urban Sustainability” and “Genealogies of Heritage and Community Resilience.” Discussions will explore how intangible heritage contributes to cultural innovation strategies, the building of global heritage networks, and digital preservation initiatives—all framed as strategies for sustainable urban development and international collaboration.

📌 Schedule of IP-WIN 2025 (Pyeongtaek, November 10–13, 2025)

November 10 (Mon): Arrival of international delegations, Welcome Reception

November 11–13 (Tue–Thu): UNESCO-inscribed Intangible Heritage Performances (2 sessions) and International Forum

November 13 (Thu): Closing Ceremony

📅 Future Roadmap – The WIN Project Series

Invitational Performance (IP-WIN 2025): November 2025, Pyeongtaek, Korea – UNESCO ICH Invitational Performance & International Forum

World Intangible Heritage Preliminary Festival (PRE-WIN 2026): Autumn 2026, across Gyeonggi Province – with participation expected from over 50 countries

World Intangible Heritage Grand Festival (WIN 2027–28): Autumn 2027–28, Greater Seoul Metropolitan Area – hosted in global cultural cities as a large-scale international celebration

⚙️ Operational Principles & Participation Guidelines

IP-WIN 2025 is designed as a participatory, ethical, and sustainable global festival. The following principles guide its planning and operation:

Autonomous Participation
Participants join the festival at their own initiative and expense, reflecting core values of equity and autonomy in cultural exchange.

Application & Approval
Performance and exhibition opportunities are curated based on submitted applications. Only proposals aligned with the event’s vision will be officially approved.
※ Submission does not guarantee participation.

Technical & Logistical Support
Approved participants may receive technical assistance, venue access, or equipment in coordination with the organizers.

Local Information Support
Self-funded participants will be provided with regularly updated information on affordable accommodations, meals, and transport.

Certificates of Participation
All officially approved performers and exhibitors will receive a formal Certificate of Participation issued by the organizers.

Awards & Recognition
Based on creativity, emotional impact, and audience engagement, selected performances may be recognized with awards and modest prizes within budgetary scope.

Honorary Distinctions
Individuals or groups contributing significantly to the event may receive honorary awards or letters of appreciation.

Documentation & Archiving
All performances and exhibitions will be professionally documented and digitally archived for future educational and promotional use.

Media Collaboration
Participants will be provided with official media kits (logos, posters, hashtags), and the event will be covered by national and international press.

Sustainable Event Practices
The festival will follow eco-friendly protocols, including minimizing single-use items and prioritizing local, digital, and reusable resources.

Safety Protocols
Safety briefings and emergency procedures will be in place, along with access to medical support during the event.

Community Engagement
Participants are encouraged to voluntarily engage in workshops, talks, or interactive sessions with local youth and residents.

Ethical & Cultural Diversity Code
All participants agree to a declaration affirming cultural diversity, mutual respect, and non-discrimination. Violations may result in sanctions.

🌐 Global Significance

Though modest in scale, IP-WIN 2025 represents Culture Masters’ bold first step toward building a World Intangible Heritage Network (WIN)—a long-term global initiative connecting heritage, sustainability, digital transformation, and cultural diplomacy. This inaugural event paves the way for PRE-WIN 2026 and WIN 2028, envisioned as larger-scale international gatherings.

In an era of identity crises, ecological imbalance, and social fragmentation, intangible heritage is not merely a relic of the past—it is a living language of resilience, solidarity, and renewal. IP-WIN 2025 invites the world to imagine a future where myth, memory, and artistic expression can shape a more harmonious and dignified global community.

🔗 Sponsorship & Partnership Opportunities

We warmly invite public and private partners to join this visionary initiative:

Official Partners will receive prominent recognition, certificates, and visibility across IP-WIN’s platforms.

Contributions directly support international performances, cultural forums, and youth engagement programs.

Corporations aligned with ESG, CSR, or public diplomacy will gain international recognition for supporting cultural sustainability.

🌱 Your partnership builds a living bridge between the world’s ancestral traditions and the dreams of future generations.

📩 Contact for Sponsorship & Participation

Email: culturemasters.1@gmail.com

Website: www.culturemasters.org

T. +82 582 3350 M: +82 10 7114 9508

Program details are subject to adjustment based on final coordination.
© 2025 Culture Masters. All rights reserved.

🎥 Watch the promotional video for WIN 2025–2028