Kim Yu-na's skates to be designated cultural assets
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The pair of skates worn by figure star Kim Yu-na will be designated cultural assets. / Courtesy of CHA
The pair of ice skates that figure skating champion Kim Yu-na wore during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics to win the gold medal will be designated as a cultural asset. The first subway train that operated in 1974 when the Seoul Metropolitan Subway system was launched will also be registered as a cultural asset, the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) announced Monday.
The CHA announced that it will include objects and buildings that are less than 50 years old to be registered as cultural assets in its plan for 2017.
"In Korea, there are few brands that produce professional ice skates for athletes so most athletes use foreign brands," the CHA said. "Although Kim's skates are made in Italy and England, they were worn by Korea's first Olympic figure skating champion when she won the first figure skating gold medal for Korea, so that is enough value for a cultural asset."
The current cultural asset protection law limits registration of assets that are less than 50 years old since their production or establishment. However, the law faced criticism that it did not protect contemporary cultural assets that were vulnerable to damage.
The CHA will also adopt a cultural asset registration system managed by municipal governments where objects or buildings are collectively registered as cultural assets.