From the “Cultural Properties Protection Act” to the “Framework Act on National Heritage”: Legal Paradigm Shifts in South Korea’s Heritage Policy

South Korea’s legal framework for cultural heritage has evolved in tandem with the nation’s broader political transformation—from colonial subjugation and authoritarian rule to democratization and global engagement. This article examines two landmark statutes that capture this legal and ideological trajectory: The Cultural Properties Protection Act (1962), shaped by colonial precedents and Japanese legal models, and the Framework Act on National Heritage (2024), which reflects convergence with international standards, particularly those promoted by UNESCO. Through comparative analysis, the study argues that heritage law in South Korea functions not merely as an administrative instrument but as a strategic arena for negotiating postcolonial legacies, internalizing transnational norms, and asserting national legitimacy. Legal reform in the heritage sector thus emerges as a profoundly political act—simultaneously consolidating domestic governance and enhancing South Korea’s international soft power.