In line with the April announcement by the Cultural Heritage Administration designating 'Hwalssoki' as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage... The Gukgung Exhibition Hall offers an in-depth space to learn about the history and culture of Korean archery.
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jongno-gu (Mayor Kim Young-jong) has suspended the admission fee for Hwanghakjeong Gukgung Exhibition Hall (15-32 Sajik-ro 9-gil), the home of traditional Korean archery culture, and will operate it free of charge from this month through December.
This decision aligns with the Cultural Heritage Administration's announcement in April regarding the designation of "archery" as a national intangible cultural asset. Through this free operation, the district aims to widely promote the excellence of traditional martial arts to local children, youth, and residents who had hesitated to visit due to cost concerns.
Located in Sajik-dong, Hwanghakjeong was originally an archery range established in 1898 at Gyeonghuigung Palace by Emperor Gojong's royal command to revive the art of archery (Saye, 射藝). The name Hwanghakjeong was given because Emperor Gojong, dressed in a yellow dragon robe, looked like a crane while shooting arrows. During the Japanese colonial period, it was relocated to its current site. In 1974, it was designated as Seoul City Tangible Cultural Property No. 25, recognizing its value.
Opened in September 2014, the Hwanghakjeong Gukgung Exhibition Hall contributes to revitalizing Korea’s traditional archery culture and passing its legacy to future generations. It consists of five exhibition halls symbolizing five arrows per round, a planned permanent exhibition space displaying donated artifacts, and an experience center.
The hall exhibits various artifacts and materials that explore the history and culture of Korean archery, and offers diverse permanent experience programs such as bow making and archery, allowing visitors to personally experience the excellence and uniqueness of Korean bows.
In 2020, the Hwanghakjeong Gukgung Exhibition Hall will newly open a traditional Gakgung (horn bow) class to continue the tradition and preserve the value of Korea’s traditional horn bow. The Korean bow, Gakgung, is a composite bow made from various materials; although smaller than bows from other countries, it can shoot arrows powerfully and over long distances. The introductory traditional Gakgung class is a two-week course per session, held on the 2nd and 3rd Saturdays of each month from June to October. The advanced course runs twice, each a 14-week program held every Sunday.
The permanent experience programs consist of "bow making" and "archery." Bow making is available from Tuesday to Sunday every week, and archery sessions are held every Thursday.
Additionally, on the last Saturday of each month, in celebration of the "Culture Day" week, various experience programs related to Korean bows (such as craft making on diverse themes) and free movie screenings are conducted.
Applications can be made through the Jongno Cultural Foundation website. For more detailed information, inquiries can be made to the Hwanghakjeong Gukgung Exhibition Hall at ☎722-1600.
Kim Young-jong, Mayor of Jongno-gu, stated, "This will be an excellent opportunity to learn about and directly experience archery, a proud traditional martial art with a long history of the Korean people," and added, "I recommend that students and residents who hesitated to visit due to admission fees freely visit this place and have a meaningful time learning about Korean traditional culture."
The Hwanghakjeong Gukgung Exhibition Hall temporarily closed due to the public facility closure decision to prevent the spread of COVID-19 but resumed operations on May 8.
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