South Korea has officially designated two powerful symbols of its democratic transformation as preliminary cultural heritage: the late President Kim Dae-jung's Nobel Peace Prize and the bloodstained clothing worn by student protester Lee Han-yeol during the pivotal 1987 pro-democracy demonstrations. The Korea Heritage Service announced Wednesday that these items, which represent both the struggles and triumphs of Korea's modern democratic history, are among ten selections chosen for the nation's first-ever preliminary cultural heritage designation.
The decision was approved by the Cultural Heritage Committee's modern history subcommittee on Tuesday. This new program was introduced in 2024 specifically to preserve contemporary items that capture defining moments in Korean society, even if they are too recent to qualify as traditional heritage under the standard 50-year rule.
Kim Dae-jung, who served as South Korea's president from 1998 to 2003, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 in recognition of his lifelong commitment to fighting for democracy and human rights, as well as his efforts to promote dialogue with North Korea through his groundbreaking Sunshine Policy. The award remains the only Nobel Prize ever granted to a Korean citizen. For many Koreans, Kim's Peace Prize medal and certificate represent the country's hard-fought transformation from military dictatorship to democracy and its emergence as a global advocate for peace and reconciliation.
The Korea Heritage Service described Kim's Nobel Prize as "an irreplaceable marker of Korea's democratic maturity and international standing." The significance of this recognition extends beyond national borders, as Kim's diplomatic efforts included the historic June 2000 inter-Korean summit, where he met with former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il at the Baekhwawon State Guesthouse in Pyongyang. This encounter marked the first meeting between leaders of the divided Koreas since the peninsula's partition following World War II.
Lee Han-yeol's belongings tell an equally compelling but tragic story of Korea's democratic struggle. The 21-year-old Yonsei University student was fatally injured on June 9, 1987, when he was struck in the head by a tear gas canister during a protest against military rule near his university campus in Seoul. A photograph captured by Reuters photographer Jung Tae-won, showing Lee collapsing with blood streaming from his head, became an iconic image that shocked the nation and served as a rallying symbol for South Korea's pro-democracy movement.
Lee's death one month after the incident became a catalyst for the June Democratic Uprising, which ultimately forced South Korea's military leaders to accept direct presidential elections. The massive demonstrations that followed his death marked a turning point in the country's transition to democracy. His torn sweatshirt, jeans, and sneakers, all stained with blood from that fateful day, have since become haunting reminders of the personal sacrifices made in the pursuit of democratic freedom.
"These are powerful artifacts that reflect the cost of freedom," said a Korea Heritage Service official, emphasizing the emotional and historical significance of preserving Lee's clothing as a testament to the struggle for democratic rights.
The preliminary cultural heritage program represents a significant expansion of Korea's efforts to preserve its contemporary history. Among the other eight items selected in this inaugural round are several pieces that highlight different aspects of Korean society and culture. These include a chair handcrafted by the revered Buddhist monk Beopjeong, personal belongings of two Austrian nurses who dedicated their lives to caring for Hansen's disease patients on Sorokdo Island, and a sketch from the memorable 1988 Seoul Olympics opening ceremony.
The Olympics-related items hold particular significance as symbols of Korea's emergence on the world stage. The program also recognized the hoop featured in the 1988 Seoul Olympics opening ceremony and sketches for the costume worn by child performer Yoon Tae-woong, whose performance drew global attention and came to symbolize Korea's growing international presence during that transformative period.
Additional selections include Korea's first Olympic gold medal, won by a Korean athlete in 1976, and memorabilia from the unified Korean table tennis team that competed in 1991, representing a rare moment of inter-Korean cooperation in sports. These diverse selections demonstrate the program's commitment to preserving various aspects of Korea's recent history, from political struggles to cultural achievements and international recognition.
