Pansori Epic Chant, the 5th item on the National List of Intangible Heritage in Korea, was proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The Cultural Properties Administration announced Pansori was proclaimed by the members of the Jury in Paris, at UNESCO Headquaters, on Nov. 7. 

This year’s proclamation ceremony is the second one held since the first Proclamation in 2001. About 50 candidatures including Pansori were submitted. Due to the recent adoption by the 32nd session of the UNESCO General Conference of a Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage held late Sept., proclaimed masterpieces will be inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity provided for in the Convention, as soon as it enters into force. 
UNESCO has first proclaimed 19 masterpieces from 19 countries in 2001 to preserve intangible cultural heritages from extinguishment. 

Royal Ancestral Rite and Ritual Music in Jongmyo Shrine (1st and 56th on the National List of Intangible Heritage) were both recognized as world masterpieces at that time. 

Source : hankooki.com, November 7, 2003