South Korea’s National Drink, Banana Flavored Milk, is Being Proposed for Registration as a National Cultural Heritage

Have you ever tried “Banana Flavored Milk”?

If you grew up in Korea, you’ve probably had the experience of sipping on sweet banana milk through a straw, bought by your parents after a public bath when you were a child.

As The “Cultural Heritage Administration” Changed Its Name To The “Korea Heritage Service”, Everyday Items That Are Commonly Seen Around Us Can Now Also Be Considered Cultural Heritage

The National Registered Cultural Heritage system preserves modern and contemporary cultural heritage that has been built, manufactured, or formed over 50 years ago. In May 2024, with the enforcement of 13 laws, including the Basic National Heritage Act, the Japanese term ‘cultural heritage (문화재)’ was replaced by the UNESCO-style term ‘national heritage (국가유산).’

As the scope of interpretation, including its value, has widened, not only must the original form be preserved and have a tangible existence, but now even everyday items around us can be recognized as cultural heritage. Accordingly, Hyundai’s Pony and Korea’s first washing machine are already listed as National Registered Cultural Heritage.

The Significance of Banana Flavored Milk

Since its launch in 1974, banana flavored milk has maintained its original shape inspired by the traditional Korean earthenware known as “dalhangari(달항아리),” which embodies the unique emotions of Koreans Unlike the packaging trends of that time, which focused solely on containment, the bottle was designed to be transparent, allowing the contents to be visible. This distinctive design has become a symbol of the identity of banana flavored milk.

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