Kim Hee-su of Yundojang Recognized as National Intangible Cultural Asset Following His Father

[Gochang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jae-gil] Kim Hee-soo has been recognized as the successor holder of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Yundojang.

According to Gochang County on the 8th, the Cultural Heritage Administration's Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee recently recognized Kim Hee-soo as the holder of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage "Yundojang (輪圖匠)".

Accordingly, Kim continues the lineage as the national intangible cultural heritage successor following his father, Kim Jong-dae.

The National Intangible Cultural Heritage "Yundojang" refers to artisans who possess the skills to make Yundo (輪圖), a traditional compass called "Paechul (佩鐵)", "Jinamcheol (指南鐵)", or "Nagyeong (羅經)", essential tools for geomancers, astronomers, travelers, fishermen, and land officers (Jigwan, 地官).

Yundo is a traditional daily tool used widely during the Joseon Dynasty, consisting of a small disc engraved with the 24 directions of the universe around a central compass, used to accurately determine auspicious locations for tombs and houses (Eumtaek and Yangtaek).

Kim Hee-soo, recently recognized as the holder of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage "Yundojang," continues the traditional Yundo-making techniques passed down for over 300 years in Naksan Village, Sanlim-ri, Seongnae-myeon, his hometown in Gochang County.

The craft has been inherited as a family business for four generations since his great-grandfather, with the Yundo production techniques, tools, and Yundo plates also passed down intact.

Additionally, Yundo has been made by accurately confirming the north-south direction at the Turtle Rock on the mountain behind the village.

To learn the Yundo-making skills, he quit his job and received traditional techniques from the previous holder, his father Kim Jong-dae, honing his craft for over 40 years. He received excellent evaluations in transmission ability, transmission environment, and contribution to transmission activities for the Yundojang category.

In particular, he has well preserved traditional methods in the use of materials and tools for each process, and his skills and completeness in making Pyeongcheol (平鐵) and Seonchu (扇錘)?a decorative weight hung at the end of a fan handle?are highly advanced.

Especially, his engraving work, carving letters in relief (negative engraving: 陰刻) on hard jujube wood, and the delicate and precise work of carving steel to make the needle and placing it on the Yundo were highly praised.

He has also actively participated in various intangible cultural heritage demonstrations, education, experiences, and exhibitions hosted by the county and the Cultural Heritage Administration, gaining recognition for his efforts to promote and transmit Yundo, a valuable part of our traditional cultural heritage. Through the Cultural Heritage Administration's Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee review, he was finally recognized as a holder of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The previous holder, Kim Jong-dae, devoted himself to the transmission of Yundojang but has been announced to be recognized as an honorary holder due to difficulties in continuing education and transmission activities for health reasons.

Yoo Ki-sang, the county governor, said, "I express my respect to teachers Kim Jong-dae and Kim Hee-soo, who silently inherit the family business and protect precious cultural heritage despite difficult conditions," and added, "We will continue to actively discover and support the traditional culture and intangible cultural heritage of Gochang, the first capital of the Korean Peninsula."

Gochang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jae-gil gjg7070@asiae.co.kr