What is "Nongak?" Music poised to make it on UNESCO cultural heritage

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Korea is poised to have a seventeenth item added to UNESCO′s intangible cultural heritage list.
It′s called Nongak... and it′s a type of traditional "farm music" that dates back to the early 20th century.
Connie Lee reports. Drums, gongs... parading, dancing, and acrobatic feats-it′s all part of what is called "Nongak."
It′s traditional Korean music... that was originally performed by farmers in the early 1900s.
Scholars say it was first introduced during the Japanese colonization of Korea.
Nongak was performed in groups... to encourage one another to work better in the fields, and to help them overcome the difficulties of agriculture life.
But today... it is a popular performing art... seen all around Korea, especially during the holidays.
And in the coming weeks, this "art" is set to be tapped as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage this after a UNESCO deliberative body made a unanimous decision to recommend Nongak.
"The unanimous recommendation is a very rare case. This is a great opportunity to share with the world the significance of Nongak."
In a report on the deliberation,... UNESCO says the music is "characterized by vitality and creativity"... providing performers and audiences with a "sense of identity."
The final decision will be made at the end of this month.. during a meeting at UNESCO′s headquarters in Paris.
Officials, however, say it is most likely that Nongak will be added to UNESCO′s intangible cultural heritage list... as Korea′s 17th item.
Others on the list include... Korea′s folk song "Arirang," and kimjang or the making and sharing of kimchi.
Connie Lee, Arirang News.