Heritage preservation in South Korea

Ganggang sullae, women's dance from South Jeolla Province, Intangible Cultural Heritage #8

The heritage preservation system of South Korea is a multi-level program aiming to preserve and cultivate Korean cultural heritage. The program is administered by the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA; 대한민국 문화재청, Daehan Minguk Munhwa Jaecheong), and the legal framework is provided by the Cultural Heritage Protection Act of 1962, last updated in 2012. The program started in 1962 and has gradually been extended and upgraded since then.

The CHA classifies cultural heritage into five major categories (state-designated heritage, city and province-designated heritage, cultural heritage material, registered cultural heritage, undesignated cultural heritage) and these are divided further into subcategories. Besides tangible cultural heritage, South Korea aims to preserve its intangible cultural heritage as well, including folk customs, music, dance and handicraft. The program also includes "living national treasures" – people who possess the knowledge and skills important to pass down intangible cultural heritage to new generations. South Korea has founded several educational centers throughout the country and established a university, specifically dedicated to heritage preservation.

Some of the heritage properties of South Korea has been inscribed into various UNESCO lists. As of 2014, the country has nine cultural and one natural World Heritage Sites, with 15 added to the provisional list; and there are 17 items registered as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.

Although the program is considered successful by both the public and experts, there are unresolved issues regarding the system and particularly the selection method of "living national treasure" holders.

The Cultural Heritage Administration

The program is administered by the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA; 대한민국 문화재청, Daehan Minguk Munhwa Jaecheong),[1] the predecessor of which was founded in 1945 by the American military government of Korea. It first belonged to the Ministry of Education, then to the Ministry of Culture. Between 1999 and 2004 it functioned as an independent agency.[2] The CHA administers the National Palace Museum of Korea as well as various 'palace offices' and 'shrine offices'.[3] It is also responsible for the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage.[4]

The CHA established Korea National University of Cultural Heritage in 2000, which specifically educates professionals for heritage preservation.[5] Since 1999 the South Korean government founded 27 educational centers for cultivating intangible cultural heritage.[6] The administrator of CHA is Byeon Youngseop, professor of history at Korea University.[7] The annual budget of the administration was 615 billion won in 2012.[8]

The legal framework for the heritage program is provided by the Cultural Heritage Protection Act of 1962[9] (문화재보호법, Munhwajae Bohobeop), last updated in 2012.[10]

History

Haenyo, women divers of Jeju Island, diving as deep as 20 meters without oxygen tanks[11]
Nolttwigi

The legal framework of cultural heritage preservation is based on the number 961 Law of 1962 (문화재보호법 Munhwajae Bohobeop), which in turn is based on the similar Japanese act of 1950. The Korean act is broader in scope, also extending to folklore. The act was amended in 1970 not only to include people (인간문화재, ingan munhwajae, "human cultural heritage") but also to support them financially.[12]

At the beginning of the program, after the Korean War, the CHA had little means to operate. Go Sangnyeol (고상렬), the administrator of CHA between 1961 and 1968 set out to search for intangible cultural properties on the basis of a series of articles written by Yae Yonghae (예용해) for Hankook Ilbo, as the reporter spent years in exploring the country and interviewing old masters of handicraft. The first items to be inscribed on the intangible heritage list were thus taken from Yae's articles. Others were added based on the opinions of researchers and also included winners of the annual folk tradition competitions. The recommendation of local administrations was also sought.[13]

Korea introduced a unique system in the 1970s to preserve folk traditions (including handicraft, arts, folk songs, folk dances, theatre, traditional food preparation techniques, etc.). This was triggered by a movement called New Community, aiming to modernize life in the countryside. In an attempt to get rid of old superstitions, the movement advocated cutting down the old Zelkova trees often found at village entrances, as they were believed to be 'protectors' of the village according to tradition. In 1971, the songs of the haenyo, or "sea women" of Jeju Island were declared provincial intangible cultural properties.[13]

Major stakeholders of the intangible heritage program are "living national treasures"[13] or officially called "holders" (보유자 boyuja),[12] people who possess knowledge or skills essential for preserving Korean culture. Some of these 'holders' obtained significant national exposure or fame,[13] for example Han Bongnyeo (한복려), a holder for the Korean royal court cuisine who supervises the authentic presentation of Joseon Dynasty food in historical movies and television series.[14][15]

The UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage took place in 2003 and South Korea joined the program a year later. In 2005 China declared some 1200 properties as intangible cultural heritage, with 16 items belonging to the Korean minority of the country, including the traditional wedding ceremony, Arirang (a folk song) and nolttwigi (a traditional seesaw game). The CHA decided that they also had to broaden the scope of intangible heritage to properties that do not have any designated 'holders', like kimchi, hangul or Goryeo ginseng.[13]

The CHA plans to open its World Intangible Heritage Complex in Jeonju, which will also function as a national centre.[16] The complex will have an area of 59,930 square metres (645,100 sq ft) and is being constructed from 66 million USD.[13]

Classification

As of July 2013 South Korea has 411 active National Treasures, 2317 Treasures, 485 Historic Sites, 104 Scenic Sites. It also classified 459 Natural Monuments, 134 Intangible Cultural Heritage items, 1062 Folklore Cultural Heritage properties and 549 Cultural Heritage of Early Modern Times.[17] In 2012 there were 180 active "living national treasures", out of 570 registered, the rest retired mainly due to health conditions.[13]

State-designated heritage

Classification Description[18] Example Image
National Treasures Important tangible cultural heritage, valuable not only for Korea but also for humankind, including historical structures, ancient books and documents, paintings, sculptures, handicraft, archaeological findings and armory. Namdaemun; National Treasure #1[19]
Treasures Important tangible cultural heritage, including historical structures, ancient books and documents, paintings, sculptures, handicraft, archaeological findings and armory. Standing stone Buddhas of Paju; Treasure #93[20]
Historic Sites Sites of outstanding historical or academic value, for example, pre-historic sites, fortresses, tombs, kilns, dolmens, temple sites. Hwaseong Fortress; Historic Site #3[21]
Scenic Sites Natural scenic sites that are of outstanding historical, artistic or landscape value, and are unique or rare due to their natural formation. Jeongbang Waterfall on Jeju Island; Scenic Site #43[22]
Natural Monuments Animals, plants, minerals, caves, geological features, biological products and natural phenomena of outstanding historical, cultural, academic or aesthetic value. Lacebark pine at Jogyesa temple in Seoul; Natural Monument #9[23]
Important Intangible Cultural Heritage Intangible cultural heritage of outstanding historical, artistic or academic value, such as theatre, music, dance and handicraft. Taepyeongmu, a type of court dance; Intangible Cultural Heritage #92[24]
Important Folklore Cultural Heritage Devices, clothing and buildings essential for everyday life, commerce, transport, entertainment, public events, religious and other festivals, to understand the change in lifestyle over the centuries. Breastplate of Prince Heungseon ; Folklore Cultural Property #65[25]

Province- or city-designated heritage

Classification Description[18] Example Image
Tangible Cultural Heritage Building, classical records, books, documents, paintings,sculptures, handicraft, archaeological findings. Seoul Anglican Cathedral, Seoul tangible cultural heritage #35[26]
Intangible Cultural Heritage Színház, zene, tánc, kézművesség Theatre, music, dance, handicraft Somokjang (소목장), furniture carpentry, designated by multiple cities and provinces[27]
Monument Shell mounds, ancient tombs, fortresses, palace sites, relic sites, animals (including habitats and breeding places), plants (including habitats), minerals and caves. Nakseongdae Park (낙성대), Seoul
Folklore Heritage Devices, clothing and buildings essential for everyday life, commerce, transport, entertainment, public events, religious and other festivals. House of Han Kyuseol aristocrat in Seoul[28] (장교동 한규설 가옥)

Other classification

The KEPCO building in Seoul, registered cultural heritage[29]
Cultural heritage material[18]

Cultural heritage rendered important from a regional point of view but not classified by cities or provinces.

Registered cultural heritage[18]

Early modern buildings built between the end of the 19th century and the 1940s, in need of preservation due to their condition.

Unregistered cultural heritage[18]

Classified into two categories:

UNESCO heritage

Relations with UNESCO are coordinated through the Korean National Commission for UNESCO since 1954.[30]

World Heritage

South Korea joined the UNESCO World Heritage program in 1988.[31] There are nine cultural and one natural world heritage sites in South Korea as of 2013, with 15 additional items on the provisional list.[31] World heritage sites include the Pulguksa temple complex and the Changdeokgung palace, and the provisional list includes sites like the ancient mountain fortresses in Central Korea.[31]

Intangible cultural heritage

As of 2014, there are 17 South Korean items inscribed as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage:[32]

Year Name Hangul Notes Image
2008 The Royal Ancestral Ritual in the Jongmyo Shrine and its Music 종묘제례악
Pansori 판소리 Korean folk opera
Gangneung Danoje Festival 강능단오제 Praying to mountain gods to protect the village
2009 Yeongsanjae 영산재 A Buddhist rite
Namsadang Nori 남사당 놀이 Male performance of music, acrobatics and dance
Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut 제주 칠머리당영등굿 A ritual on Jeju Island when locals pray for a peaceful sea and abundant catch
Ganggang sullae 강강술래 Female dance from South Jeolla Province
Cheoyongmu 처용무 masked dance
2010 Gagok 가곡 lyric song cycles accompanied by an orchestra
Daemokjang, 대목장 Traditional wooden architecture
2011 Weaving of Moshi (fine ramie) in Hansan region 한산모시짜기
Taekkyeon 택견 Martial art
Jultagi 줄타기 tightrope walking
2012 Falconry (with other countries) 매 부리기
Arirang 아리랑 folk song
2013 Gimjang[33] 김장 kimchi making season
2014 pungmul (nongak)[34] 풍물 (농악) farmers' traditional music and dance

Memory of the World

As of 2013 there are 11 South Korean items inscribed into the Memory of the World Register:[35]

Year Name Hangul Notes Image
1997 Annals of the Joseon Dynasty 조선왕조실록 From 1413 to 1865
Hunmin Jeongeum 훈민정음 Manuscript on the introduction of Hangul
2001 Seungjeongwon ilgi 승정원일기 The Diaries of the Royal Secretariat
Jikji 불조직지심체요절 the second volume of "Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests’ Zen Teachings"
2007 Tripitaka Koreana 팔만 대장경 Printing woodblocks of Buddhists texts
Uigwe 의궤 The Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty
2009 Dongui Bogam 동의보감 Book about Eastern Medicine
2011 Archives of the Gwangju uprising of 18 May 1980 5·18 광주 민주화 운동
Ilseongnok 일성록 Records of Daily Reflections for the King
2013 Nanjung Ilgi 난중일기 War Diary of Admiral Yi Sun-sin
The Archives of the New Community Movement 새마을 운동 A movement aiming to modernize rural life in the 1970s

Criticism

The cultural heritage program of South Korea is generally considered a success both by academics and the public, however, a few issues remain to be addressed.[12] One of them is the selection process of the "holders", as the prestige and state support of the position creates high competition between folk artists to be selected. According to Choi Sung-ja, a member of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Subcommittee, the intangible cultural heritage program should not be tied exclusively to the existence of "holders", and a less subjective selection process should be introduced. Since 2009 the CHA changed its selection process by involving academic professionals to introduce a more objective evaluation system of "holders".[13]

Changes in society also brought challenges to the program. For example, in the 1990s Christian groups started to question the need to classify shamanistic rituals as cultural heritage. Patriarchal lifestyle, where the man is the main provider of the family and women stay at home, also influenced "holders", as housewives started to pick up the preservation of folk traditions also in areas that were previously dominated by men. The government resisted appointing female holders for such predominantly male traditions but was gradually forced to acknowledge them when there were no male practitioners at all, or where the women were significantly more talented than the men.[12]

According to Roald Maliangkay of The Australian National University, the program faces challenges from the Korean Wave, as well. As Korean culture is becoming more popular worldwide, due to the influence of television series and K-pop, South Korea started to use its culture as a means of soft power, involving its cultural heritage, too.[12] Maliangkay thinks that

"...a society’s image abroad is not shaped entirely by cultural activities. It is, instead, shaped by the combined total of what people abroad see and hear, and what they know about aspects they consider important, whether those are positive or not. [...] Even a society that cares greatly for its people and its heritage may not have a very positive image abroad, and vice versa. South Korea cannot control what people abroad will come to understand about its society and culture either.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "What is the Job of the Cultural Heritage Administration?". Cultural Heritage Administration, Republic of Korea. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
  2. ↑ "History". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  3. ↑ "Organizational Chart". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  4. ↑ "Royal Tombs". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  5. ↑ "Overview". Korea National University of Cultural Heritage. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  6. ↑ "Korea". Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  7. ↑ "Administrator". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  8. ↑ "Budget". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
  9. ↑ "Cultural Heritage Protection Act (Act No. 961 of January 10, 1962, as amended up to Act No. 10000 of February 4, 2010)". WIPO. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  10. ↑ 문화재보호법 (in Korean). Korea Ministry of Government Legislation. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  11. ↑ "The haenyo divers: Korea’s women of the sea". CNN. 2010-06-21. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Roald Maliangkay (2009-10-13). "Reflections on South Korea’s 1962 heritage scheme". The Archival Platform. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Suh Heun-gang, Ahn Hong-beom. "Fifty Years of Endeavors for Preservation and Transmission". Koreana. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  14. ↑ "Special Interview - Han Bok-Ryeo, Master of Korean Royal Cuisine". Hancinema. 2009-12-07. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  15. ↑ "Vive La Korean Food! Hallyu Revitalizes Culinary Tradition". The Korea Times. 2008-03-20. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  16. ↑ "Greeting". WITH. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  17. ↑ "Cultural Heritage General Search (adatbázis)" (in Korean). Cultural Heritage Administration, Republic of Korea. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 "Heritage Classification". Cultural Heritage Administration, Republic of Korea. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
  19. ↑ "Sungnyemun Gate in Seoul". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  20. ↑ "Rock-carved Two Standing Buddhas in Yongmi-ri, Paju". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  21. ↑ "Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  22. ↑ "Jeongbang Falls in Seogwipo, Jeju". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  23. ↑ "Lacebark Pine of Jogyesa Temple, Seoul". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  24. ↑ "Taepyeongmu (Dance of Peace)". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  25. ↑ "Heungseon Daewongun's Rank Badge with Girin Design". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  26. ↑ 서울성공회성당 (in Korean). Encykorea. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  27. ↑ "About the Somokjang". Seongdong-gu. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  28. ↑ "Finding Our Traditional Housing... Myungwon Folk House". Kookmin University. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  29. ↑ "Old KEPCO Building in Namdaemun-ro". Cultural Heritage Administration. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  30. ↑ "Foundation". Korean National Commission for UNESCO. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
  31. 1 2 3 "Republic of Korea". UNESCO. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  32. ↑ "Elements on the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage". UNESCO. Retrieved 2014-11-28.
  33. ↑ "Kimchi-Making Culture Joins UNESCO Intangible Heritage List". Chosun Ilbo. 2013-12-06. Retrieved 2013-12-06.
  34. ↑ "'Nongak' added to UNESCO list". Korea.net. 2014-11-28. Retrieved 2014-11-28.
  35. ↑ "Republic of Korea". UNESCO Memory of the World. Retrieved 2013-07-22.

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