| Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 문화재청 |
| Hanja | 文化財廳 |
| Revised Romanization | Munhwajaecheong |
| McCune–Reischauer | Munhwajaech'ŏng |
The Cultural Heritage Administration or CHA, formerly the Cultural Properties Administration, is an agency of the South Korean government charged with preserving key aspects of the Korean cultural heritage. It is headquartered in the city of Daejeon at the Daejeon Government Complex. Previously part of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, it was elevated to a sub-ministerial agency in 1999. The CHA's primary task is to identify the National Treasures of South Korea and administer their protection under the Cultural Property Protection Law (1962). The protected items fall into four main categories, Tangible Cultural Properties including National Treasures and Treasures, Monuments including Historic Sites, Historic Sites & Scenic Sites, Scenic Areas and Natural Monuments, Important Folklore Material (which is not subdivided) and Important Intangible Cultural Properties.
The CHA was formally established in November 1961, but traces its roots back to the Former Royal Properties Administration set up in November 1945 at the beginning of American military rule.