Living National Treasure (South Korea)
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A Living National Treasure (인간 문화재; ingan munhwajae), literally meaning ''human cultural asset'', is a South Korean popular term for those individuals certified as Holders of Important Intangible Cultural Properties (중요 무형 문화재 보유자), also known as ''keepers'', by the
Ministry of Education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...
as based on South Korea's ''Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties'' (문화재 보호법). The term "Living National Treasure" is not formally mentioned in the law, but is an informal term referencing the cultural properties designated as the National Treasures.


History

The government started taking steps after the Second World War and the Korean War to protect the intangible heritage of the country. The term was coined in 1960 by the young reporter Ye Yong-hae, who published a number of series in the ''
Hankook Ilbo ''Hankook Ilbo'' () is a Korean-language daily newspaper in Seoul, South Korea. As of 2017, it had a daily circulation of about 213,200. It was previously published by the Hankook Ilbo Media Group, however following an embezzlement scandal in ...
'' newspaper, highlighting the plight of artisans and artists who were either neglected or even persecuted under the regime of President Park under the '' Misin tapa undong'' modernization drive that was destroying the old traditional beliefs and fabrics of villages. In a growing recognition of the worthiness of protecting the old Korean traditions and culture, a law was passed to protect the intangible cultural heritages and the masters and artisans who were keeping it alive. Over time the number of keepers of this heritage grew, but the list was also subject to criticism about the exact criteria and nomination process. The latest Important Intangible Cultural Property is ''bun-wa-jang'', a traditional Korean roof building skill, which was designated in 2008. With the designation, Lee Geon-bok was approved as an ''ingan-munhwajae'' in 2008. According to Jeon Byung-hon of the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...
, twelve Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea have not had any ''ingan-munhwajae'' for more than 10 years.


Definition

A Living National Treasure is a person with the ability to make or perform one of the officially designated Important Intangible Cultural Properties. Intangible culture assets are organized within 108 different aspects of Korean traditional culture, from traditional dance to building techniques. The ministry draws the list and puts the artist under its protection. It is advised by the
Cultural Heritage Administration The Cultural Heritage Administration () or CHA, formerly the Cultural Properties Administration, is the agency of the South Korean government charged with preserving and promoting Korean cultural heritage. It is headquartered in the city of Dae ...
under the Cultural Properties Protection Law. Once people are designated as an holders, they have rights to government support for transmission of their cultural performance and have responsibility to show that ability and train younger students. The designation expires with his or her death.


List

Presently it has designated a total of 570 holders of these intangible properties. * Han Bongnyeo (한복려 ; 韓福麗), chef, holder of Intangible Cultural Property No. 38 (
Korean royal court cuisine Korean royal court cuisine (''Joseon Wangjo Gungjung yori'') was the style of cookery within Korean cuisine traditionally consumed at the court of the Joseon Dynasty, which ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910. There has been a revival of this cookery s ...
) * Jung Gwan-Chae, dyer, holder of Intangible Cultural Property No. 115 (''
yeomsaek ''Yeomsaek'' (Hangul: 염색) is a traditional Korean process for dyeing cloth. ''Yeomsaek'' primarily uses natural colourings such as tea, saffron and gardenia. The most important of these from a cultural perspective is indigo (''jjock''), whi ...
'') * Kim Bak-young (김박영 ; 金博榮), bowmaker, holder of Intangible Cultural Property No. 47 (''
gakgung The Korean Bow ( ko, 각궁, Gak-gung hanja: , or ''horn bow'') is a water buffalo horn-based composite reflex bow, standardized centuries ago from a variety of similar weapons in earlier use. Due to its long use by Koreans, it is also known as G ...
'') * Kim Deokhwan (김덕환 ; 金德煥), gold leaf artisan, holder of Intangible Cultural Property No. 199 (''
geumbak ''Geumbak'' is a Korean traditional craft for applying extremely thin gold leaf on hanbok The (; term used in South Korea), also called () n North Korea and China, is an umbrella term which is used to refer to traditional ethnic Korean cl ...
'') *
Kim Sook-ja Kim suk-ja(; December 20, 1926 -December 23, 1991 ) was an Ingan-munhwage of Salpulyi, which is the 97th Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea. As a Korean classical musician, she specialized in Gyeonggi province Salpulyi, so it is ca ...
, salpuri dancer, official guardian of Intangible Cultural Property No. 97. * Kim Tong Yon, bamboo craftsman * Kim Youngjae, musician, holder of Intangible Cultural Property No.16 (''
geomungo sanjo The geomungo (also spelled ''komungo'' or ''kŏmun'go'') or ''hyeongeum'' (literally "black zither", also spelled ''hyongum'' or ''hyŏn'gŭm'') is a traditional Korean plucked zither with both bridges and frets. ''Geomungo'' is a representative ...
'') *
Lee Ju-hwan Lee Ju-hwan(; April 10, 1909 - December 2, 1972) was an Ingan-munhwage of Korean traditional song, Gangtok, which is the 41st Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea. He is also a master of gasa, which is Korean traditional literature th ...
, holder of Intangible Cultural Property No. 30 and 41 *
Song Deok-Gi Song Deok-Gi (); (19 January 1893- 23 July 1987) was a Martial artist from Korea. One of the last practitioners of the ancient martial art of Taekkyon, he helped convey the art during the Japanese Occupation of Korea (1910-1945) and the Korean Wa ...
(송덕기 ; 宋德基), one of the last practitioners of traditional martial arts, holder of Intangible Cultural Property No. 76 (
Taekkyon Taekkyon, Taekgyeon, Taekkyeon, or Taekyun (Korean: 태껸/ 택견/ 托肩, ) is a traditional Korean martial art. It is characterized by fluid, dynamic foot movement called "''pum balki''" or Stepping-on-Triangles. Taekkyon includes hands an ...
) *
Yu Geun-Hyeong Yu Geun-Hyeong (유근형 ; 柳根瀅) (April 5, 1894 – January 20, 1993) was a master Korean ceramist and played a leading role in the revival of Goryeo celadon. He first worked at the Hanyang Koryo Ceramics Factory run by the Japanese in Shinda ...
(유근형 ; 柳根瀅), ceramist, holder of Intangible Cultural Property No.13 (
Koryo Celadon ''Koryo Celadon'' is a 1979 South Korean short documentary film directed by Paul Raimondi about Goryeo dynasty pottery. It was nominated for an Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and te ...
) *
Kwon Museok Kwon Museok (hangul:권무석, February 12, 1942) is a Korean intangible cultural asset. Kwon Museok is a recognized artisan of Gungdo. He inherited the family business, which is 12 generations old. In 1994, he received the 'Proud Seoul Civil Pr ...
, a recognized artisan of
Gungdo The Korean Bow ( ko, 각궁, Gak-gung hanja: , or ''horn bow'') is a water buffalo horn-based composite reflex bow, standardized centuries ago from a variety of similar weapons in earlier use. Due to its long use by Koreans, it is also known as Gu ...


See also

*
Heritage preservation in South Korea 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 ...
*
Living National Treasure (Japan) is a Japanese popular term for those individuals certified as by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as based on Japan's . The term "Living National Treasure" is not formally mentioned in the law, but is an informa ...


References


External links


Korean Cultural Heritage Administration
* http://congress.aks.ac.kr/korean/files/2_1358750273.pdf * https://www.unesco.or.kr/upload/data_center/2002%20인간문화재제도설립관련운영지침(영문).pdf {{Heritage preservation in South Korea Arts in South Korea Korean culture