Naju-si Promotes Four Projects Including Humanities and Experience Utilizing National Heritage

Naju City in Jeollanam-do is set to actively promote various national heritage utilization projects that enhance the usefulness of local cultural heritage.

On the 24th, Naju City (Mayor Yoon Byung-tae) announced that it will carry out four projects in the fields of history, humanities, and experience as part of the ‘Our Local National Heritage Utilization Project’ organized by the National Heritage Administration (formerly the Cultural Heritage Administration).

Naju City is promoting various national heritage utilization projects that enhance the effectiveness of local cultural heritage.
[Photo by Naju City]

This project aims to re-examine the value of national heritage by region and expand citizens' opportunities to enjoy culture, with selections made annually through the National Heritage Administration’s public contest.

To make cultural heritage a more familiar space for local residents, education and experiential programs on the historical and humanities values embedded in each location are conducted.

In particular, starting this year, a climate change response program has been newly established to protect cultural heritage from the climate crisis and explore sustainable utilization methods.

The projects selected by the city include four initiatives: ‘Vivid Cultural Heritage,’ ‘Cultural Heritage Night Tour,’ ‘Naju Hyanggyo Curved Pine Tree School,’ and ‘Traditional Mountain Temple Cultural Heritage Utilization.’

‘Vivid Cultural Heritage,’ hosted by the Naju Cultural Center, offers experiential programs such as exploring the Naju Eupseong cultural assets and Yeongsangang River pavilions, natural dyeing, and using wooden printing blocks from Micheon Seowon.

The Cultural Heritage Night Tour is a festival event held at night across the Naju Eupseong cultural assets, including Geumseonggwan, Naju Hyanggyo, and the Naju Moksa’s official residence, scheduled to take place over three days from September 27 to 29.

At the Curved Pine Tree School, located at Naju Hyanggyo?the largest hyanggyo building of the Joseon Dynasty?participants can experience Confucian culture, etiquette education, and traditional games.

The traditional mountain temple experience held at Bulghoe-sa, a thousand-year-old temple located in Dado-myeon, offers traditional tea tasting and etiquette education.

Except for the Naju Cultural Heritage Night Tour, the other three programs are currently underway.

Applications for participation can be made by contacting the Naju Cultural Center and Bitgaram Development Cooperative for Vivid Cultural Heritage, the Naju Hyanggyo Content Project Group for the Curved Pine Tree School, and Bulghoe-sa for the Traditional Mountain Temple Cultural Heritage program.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, “We are operating various cultural, tourism, and educational programs utilizing the diverse cultural heritage of Naju, the thousand-year-old Moksa town. We hope this opportunity allows many people to approach, enjoy, and cherish the local cultural heritage more closely.”

Naju = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Kim Yuk-bong baekok@asiae.co.kr