Why do Koreans say the Dragon Boat Festival is theirs?

South Korea also celebrates the Dragon Boat Festival, but it is said that Koreans say it is theirs, which is a misunderstanding of China people. The cultures of several countries in East Asia are influenced by the ancient culture of China, which is similar to the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Spring Festival. However, the Dragon Boat Festival is controversial, because Koreans or specifically Gangneung people in South Korea have separated it from their local characteristics. Unlike us, who row dragon boats and eat zongzi to commemorate Qu Yuan and Gangneung Dragon Boat Festival, South Korea mainly prays for good weather and local peace, and carries out a series of sacrificial activities to worship the local patron saint, plus some similar things. As we all know, after many wars in modern times and the development of industrial civilization, many traditional cultures in ancient times have been destroyed, and almost a few have been lost. However, gangneung danoje festival has the honor to inherit, and the whole sacrificial process is complete, which well represents the sacrificial way and process of the ancient Korean nation. UNESCO listed gangneung danoje festival as a world intangible cultural heritage because of its cultural diversity and its position of strengthening the protection of traditional culture with characteristics. This is also a big statement.

Before gangneung danoje festival declared the intangible cultural heritage, China always focused on the intangible cultural heritage such as the Forbidden City, and the protection of many intangible cultural heritages was lacking. However, after this incident, China also strengthened the protection of intangible cultural heritage. For example, our Dragon Boat Race in memory of Qu Yuan was also listed as a world intangible cultural heritage in 2009.