Jungnang-gu's 'A Secret Letter Sent by the Independence Army' Selected as an Excellent Project by the Cultural Heritage Administration

[Seoul District News] Jungnang-gu's cultural heritage sites 'Achasan Bongsudae Site' and 'Mangu Independence Patriots Cemetery' utilized in four age-appropriate tourism education programs... Yongsan-gu recruiting students for Yongsan Seodang and Kkum Namu Seosil... Geumcheon-gu supports Dream Start children's pre-middle school programs including online middle school life lectures, non-face-to-face job experiences, family movie viewing, and family photo sessions

‘A Secret Letter Sent by the Independence Army’ Program Hosted

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) has achieved a great success as its Saengsaeng Cultural Heritage project, "A Secret Letter Sent by the Independence Army," was selected as an excellent regional cultural heritage utilization project in 2022 and received the Cultural Heritage Administration Commissioner’s Award.

This award was one of 11 selected from 165 Saengsaeng Cultural Heritage projects nationwide, recognizing the program’s excellence. Moreover, the project also ranked first in a nationwide online public vote for excellent projects, demonstrating its high popularity.

Since 2020, Jungnang-gu’s Saengsaeng Cultural Heritage project, continuously selected through the Cultural Heritage Administration’s public contest, has utilized anti-Japanese independence cultural assets such as the ‘Achasan Beacon Mound Site’ on Bonghwasan Mountain and the ‘Mangwoo Independence Patriots Cemetery’ in Mangwoo History and Culture Park. It is an experiential tourism program with storytelling elements. Participants showed enthusiastic responses as they could learn about the independence army’s activities through direct experiential formats.

In particular, the project spread historical culture related to the independence movement and organized user-centered customized programs nationwide, offering four differentiated programs tailored to different age groups.

For lower-grade elementary students, the program "Mission! Safely Deliver the Independence Army’s Secret Letter" allows them to experience Korea’s beacon system in an interactive way. For teenagers, "Mission! Become a Member of the Secret Society Damuldan" involves organizing a secret society and identifying spies. For families with young children and lower-grade elementary students, "Mission! Decode the Independence Fund Cipher" teaches the function and necessity of independence funds. These programs educated participants on the difficult and heavy topics of independence activists and activities through field trips and hands-on experiences, earning positive reviews.

The project also received high marks for contributing to making cultural heritage local attractions and for the active participation of local residents from planning to operation.

The district secured 77.5 million KRW in project funds for next year by being selected for the Saengsaeng Cultural Heritage project for four consecutive years. Building on this year’s excellent project selection, the district plans to operate richer and more substantial programs next year to establish the project as a representative cultural tourism program of the region.

Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “It is meaningful that a project utilizing the region’s precious cultural heritage was selected as an excellent project. We will continue to develop the program to enhance Jungnang-gu’s image as a historical and cultural city and develop more diverse programs to revitalize local tourism.”

Yongsan Seodang

Yongsan-gu (Mayor Park Hee-young) is accepting applications on a first-come, first-served basis until the 23rd for the ‘2023 1st Quarter Regular Courses at Yongsan Seodang and Dream Tree Study Room.’

Any Yongsan resident is eligible to apply.

The education period is a three-month course from January 2 to March 29, 2023, with regular classes at Yongsan Seodang and Dream Tree Study Room (Calligraphy and Traditional Calligraphy) offered.

The Yongsan Seodang regular classes are divided into elementary student and adult classes, with 15 and 10 spots respectively. The elementary class teaches basic Chinese characters (levels 7-8) and basic radicals and the classic text Saja Sohak. The adult class covers basic radicals, Hakeojip, accelerated Chinese characters, Seolmunhaeja, Cheonjamun, and Daehak.

The Dream Tree Study Room operates calligraphy classes (adult and elementary/middle school student classes) and traditional calligraphy classes (adult class). Each has 15 spots, with personalized instruction by skill level. The traditional calligraphy class includes practical brush calligraphy and theory lessons.

The tuition fee is 20,000 KRW per subject. Any resident wishing to enroll can apply through the ‘Yongsan-gu Education Comprehensive Portal.’

An official from the district said, “There is strong public interest in the Seodang in the city center. We will provide learning opportunities to residents not only through regular courses but also various special lectures.”

Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) is conducting the ‘Dream Start Pre-Middle School Program’ for 34 children whose Dream Start support ends upon turning 12, along with their families.

The ‘Dream Start Pre-Middle School Program’ is designed to celebrate the elementary school graduation of Dream Start children about to enter middle school by creating joyful memories with their families and providing information about the new middle school life.

The program includes ▲an online special lecture to motivate middle school life and learning ▲non-face-to-face career experiences exploring VR (virtual reality) experts, perfumers, webtoon artists, and creators ▲family movie viewing ▲family photo shoots to capture memories ▲and a parent (caregiver) meeting to gather opinions on the Dream Start project.

Dream Start is a project supporting the healthy growth and development of vulnerable children aged 0 to 12, ensuring equal starting opportunities so they can grow into healthy and happy members of society. Currently, Geumcheon-gu manages integrated case management for about 200 children.

Yoo Sung-hoon, Mayor of Geumcheon-gu, said, “I hope children who have grown up healthily through Dream Start can create good memories with their families and start middle school life with anticipation for a new beginning.”