Quick Update: China Lays Claim to Arirang (What?!?! among other things they lay claim to??)

So I was on www.daum.net, which I go on to check updates on Korean news. Then I found out that Koreans were outraged by China. Why? because China was registering Korea's unofficial national anthem "Arirang" (아리랑), as part of its own cultural heritage. (Source) However, Beijing explained that it registered the song as part of culture of ethnic Koreans in China.

China has outraged patriotic Koreans by registering the folk song "Arirang," widely considered Korea's unofficial national anthem, as part of its own cultural heritage. 

Beijing says it merely registered the song as part of the culture of ethnic Koreans in China...

I am going to have to call B.S. on this one and agree with "some" experts on this issue because it seems that China has already registered other things before this.

Earlier, China had designated as its own cultural heritage the traditional Korean feast celebrating one's 60th birthday, traditional Korean wedding ceremony, the traditional Korean dress hanbok and a farmer's dance, saying they are practiced by ethnic Korean in northeastern China. 

The Korean Arirang Association in a statement on Wednesday said, "When China first designated some ethnic Korean cultural customs including the farmer's dance in Yanbian as part of its own culture, rumors started to circulate that China would go further than that, and it seems they have become a reality now." It said the move "is a definite threat at a time when the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has chosen 'Arirang' among 100 icons representing Korea and has linked the song with efforts to promote the country's brand image." 

China succeeded in registering the Yanbian farmer's dance on the UN World Heritage list in 2009. 

The article says that "some" experts believe this: 

...move is an extension of the Chinese Academy for Social Sciences' "Northeast Project," which critics say sought to co-opt the culture of the early Korean kingdoms. 

I agree with these experts. I believe there are more things to come. For some people who doesn't know what Northeast Project is, here you go.  Basically, China launched a study back in 2002 and claimed that Koguryo history belongs to China, not Korea. That wasn't the only time China made a claim to something that belonged to Korea. Back in 2010, there was a case where China made a claim to Korean alphabet Hangul (한글) (Source)

What do I think about this?? I think Korean politicians should wake the hell up and do something about this. Also, Koreans should take more interested in issues like this and fight. Dokdo is not the only thing issue that we need to fight for.

In the mean time... While I keep close eye on this issue, you guys can enjoy "Arirang" and... oh.. Kim Yuna =)

[Post Script: An interesting article about a man and arirang. Here.]