Living National Treasure (South Korea)

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 as based on South Korea's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties (문화재 보호법).[1][2] 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.

Living National Treasure
Hangul
인간문화재 (중요무형문화재보유자)
Hanja
Revised RomanizationInganmunhwajae (Jungyomuhyeongmunhwajaeboyuja)
McCune–ReischauerInkanmunhwachae (Chungyomuhyŏngmunhwachaepoyucha)

History edit

The government started taking steps after the Second World War and the Korean War to protect the intangible heritage of the country.[3]

The term was coined in 1960 by the young reporter Ye Yong-hae, who published a number of series in the Hankook Ilbo 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.[4]

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, twelve Important Intangible Cultural Properties of Korea have not had any ingan-munhwajae for more than 10 years.

Definition edit

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 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 edit

Presently it has designated a total of 570 holders of these intangible properties.[5]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Koreana : A Quarterly on Korean Art & Culture". Archived from the original on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  2. ^ "ERROR".
  3. ^ "ERROR".
  4. ^ "ERROR".
  5. ^ "Koreana : A Quarterly on Korean Art & Culture". Archived from the original on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
  6. ^ "Special Interview - Han Bok-Ryeo, Master of Korean Royal Cuisine". HanCinema. 2009-12-07. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  7. ^ "Vive La Korean Food! Hallyu Revitalizes Culinary Tradition". The Korea Times. 2008-03-20. Retrieved 2013-05-10.
  8. ^ "한국을 대표하는 글로벌 방송! The World on Arirang!".
  9. ^ "궁시장 김박영".
  10. ^ "'금박장' 33년만에 무형문화재 김덕환씨". 14 September 2006.
  11. ^ Lee, Byoung-ok (2009). "The Concept of Korean Folk Dance". Korean Folk Dance. Translated by Cho, Yoon-jung. p. 144.
  12. ^ "South Korea, People, Men, Portrait of Kim Tong Yon a master bamboo".
  13. ^ "Korean Cultural Center New York".
  14. ^ "Home".
  15. ^ "History of Korean Taekkyon".
  16. ^ "Collections Online | British Museum".
  17. ^ "Koryo Celadon (Short 1979) - IMDb". IMDb.
  18. ^ https://www.amazon.de/Koryo-celadon-autobiography-Keun-Hyeong-transparent/dp/B0088GGNLI
  19. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Koryo Celadon (Korean Ceramics). YouTube.
  20. ^ "[전통을 잇는 사람들] <14> 무형문화재 궁장 권무석 씨" [[People who inherit tradition] <14> Intangible Cultural Asset Mr. Gwon Mu-seok] (in Korean). 2010-02-17. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
  21. ^ "배희한(裵喜漢) Heehan Bae (裵喜Han)". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean). Retrieved 2023-06-19.

External links edit