Yoon Jong-guk and Lim Seon-bin to Become Holders of 'Akki-jang' Book Production

Confirmed Skills Through Cultural Heritage Administration Field Survey "Sound Excellence Also Verified"

Mr. Yoon Jong-guk, Recognized as a Holder of the Instrument Maker (Drum Making) License

On the 9th, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced its intention to recognize Mr. Yoon Jong-guk and Mr. Lim Seon-bin as holders of the national intangible cultural asset "Instrument Maker" for drum (buk) production. After reviewing opinions from various sectors for one month and undergoing deliberation by the Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee, the final decision on recognition will be made. An Instrument Maker is a craftsman who makes instruments used in traditional music or possesses such skills.

Mr. Yoon is a craftsman who has continued the tradition of drum making for four generations since his great-grandfather. He inherited techniques from his father, Yoon Deok-jin, who was also a recognized holder of drum making skills, and has honed his craft for 40 years. In 1995, he was recognized as a drum making transmission educator. Mr. Lim has refined his drum making skills for 60 years and was recognized as a holder of the Gyeonggi intangible cultural asset Instrument Maker in 1999. He is actively engaged in his craft, including making the daego (a large drum with a wooden or metal frame covered with leather and played with a mallet) used in the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Paralympics.

Im Sun-bin Announced as Recognized Holder of Instrument Maker (Drum Maker) Title

A Cultural Heritage Administration official explained, "Through an on-site investigation conducted last June, we confirmed the core skills of drum making such as stretching the drum skin, making the drum body, and handling the leather," adding, "The excellence of the sound was also verified by having a traditional music performer at the National Gugak Center play the completed instrument." Stretching the drum skin is the technique of properly stretching and tightening the leather over the drum body, and making the drum body is the technique of creating the drum frame using a round hoop.

Currently, there are three recognized Instrument Makers: one for drum making, one for string instrument making, and one for pyeonjong and pyeongyeong (bronze bells and chimes) making. The Cultural Heritage Administration official said, "We expect that additional recognition will invigorate the transmission sites."