China and South Korea in Cultural Heritage Dispute Over “Stone Pot Bibimbap”

China’s recent listing of “stone pot bibimbap” as a provincial cultural heritage has sparked a heated dispute with South Korea, with the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticizing China’s behavior as “distorting history.”

According to reports, the Chinese government has officially declared 65 items as part of its “fifth intangible cultural heritage,” including the traditional Korean dish “stone pot bibimbap.” Jilin Province listed stone pot bibimbap as “Korean stone pot bibimbap cooking technology” three years ago, also including rice cakes, kimchi, and winter vegetables in China’s intangible cultural heritage.

The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs has emphasized its commitment to responding to China’s attempts to distort history, stating that “historical issues are important issues concerning national identity.” The ministry has called on China to respect South Korea’s cultural identity and avoid harming the friendship between the two nations.

South Korean media has pointed out that this is not the first time China has been accused of cultural appropriation. In 2008, China changed the name of South Korea’s “farmer’s dance” to “Korean farmer’s dance” and upgraded it to a national intangible cultural heritage. The dance was then submitted to the UNESCO World Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2009.

China’s actions have been met with strong dissatisfaction from the South Korean government and people, who view the move as an attempt to erase Korean cultural heritage and claim it as their own.