UNESCO said Friday Korea& 039 s royal ancestral rites and ritual music of the Chongmyo Shrine were proclaimed masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.

In a meeting from Tuesday to Thursday in Paris, the UNESCO selected 9 out of 32 items of "intangible heritage" submitted by a wide-range of countries including China, Japan, India, Russia, Italy and the Philippines.

Chosen were six Asian, five Italian, four Latin American, and four African cultural properties. They include Kunqu Opera of China Sicilian puppet theater of Italy Garifuna language, dance and music of Belize and Bolivia& 039 s Oruro Carnival.

It was UNESCO& 039 s first declaration of an official list. The organization has pushed the "masterpiece" project since 1998, with an aim of encouraging governments, NGOs, and local communities to identify and preserve their oral and intangible heritage. South Korea has actively engaged in the project.

South Korea has also secured recognition for seven of its tangible properties on UNESCO& 039 s World Heritage list: Sokguram Grotto, Pulguk Temple, the Palmandaejangkyong Buddhist Scriptures, Chongmyo Confucius Shrine, Changdok Palace and the fortress at Suwon.