Foreword

First published in 2006 in commemoration of the 2004 International Council of Museums (ICOM) Seoul General Assembly, the International Journal of Intangible Heritage this year celebrates its 15th anniversary as a platform shared by more than 30 experts spanning the globe to present their various research achievements related to Intangible Cultural Heritage, its policies and practices. In August 2010, its international authority was recognised when it became the first national institute publication to be listed on the Arts and Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI) hosted by the Thomas Reuter Corporation in the United States. In 2011, it was also listed by SCOPUS, the Modern Language Association International bibliography (MLAIB) and the Bibliography for Asian Studies (BAS) in the United States. These achievements were made possible by the efforts of all the authors and the editorial board who have participated in the development of the journal.

This 15th edition of the International Journal of Intangible Heritage includes 11 research papers and 3 book reviews. Research papers dealing with the cooperative efforts of field practices and academia for the common goal of transmitting Intangible Cultural Heritage are published, including discussions on such subjects as scientific technological practices for the preservation of Intangible Heritage and the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Bruneian society which has undergone rapid ethnic, religious and generational change. I express sincere gratitude to the authors who have contributed valuable papers produced from their intensive field research on Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The National Folk Museum of Korea works together with ICOM to ensure that the diversity of research on Intangible Cultural Heritage is recorded for the education and appreciation of future generations. In addition to the annual publication of the English and the Korean editions of the Journal, we have reorganised the Homepage for the International Journal of Intangible Heritage to make it more readily accessible to users. On the new Homepage, archive materials related to research papers can be easily found, including the searching and downloading of existing research papers. I hope that this Homepage will develop as an Intangible Heritage-related platform on which to introduce and share research on Intangible Heritage around the world.

Lastly, I would like to thank all of those who have worked hard for the publication of the Journal. I express my gratitude to the members of the editorial committee, including the chairman of the editorial board, Alissandra Cummins, Text Editor, Pamela Inder, and the relevant workers at our museum who have shown diligent devotion to each year's publication. I hope the Journal, celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, continues to be a platform that shares the value and the importance of Intangible Heritage. Thank you all.

Yoon Sung-Yong
Publisher of the International Journal of Intangible Heritage
Director-General of the National Folk Museum of Korea