Student from Dong-A University Department of Goguryeo Art History Selected as Outstanding Team at the World Heritage Industry Expo Startup Camp

Cultural Heritage Administration Provides Customized Consulting Support to One Outstanding Team

Proposes 'Yuit,' an Online Platform for Intangible Heritage Value

Dong-A University (President Lee Hae-woo) announced that a team composed of students from the Department of Archaeology and Art History was selected as an outstanding team at the “2024 World National Heritage Industry Expo 2-Day 1-Night National Heritage Startup Camp” hosted by the Cultural Heritage Administration.

The startup camp, held for the first time this year for university startup clubs nationwide interested in national heritage (the new name for ‘cultural properties’ reflecting the future, as of May 17, 2023, the designation changed from cultural properties to national heritage), took place last September at the Gyeongju Hwabaek Convention Center in Gyeongbuk.

The program was conducted over two days and included practical startup mentor lectures, business plan writing and mentoring revisions, idea refinement mentoring, presentations at the national heritage startup competition, and the selection of one outstanding team.

Examples of startup ideas included producing educational kits for children using cultural heritage, game design that reimagines natural heritage as game characters, regional tourism content that carries on the spirit of intangible heritage, and souvenir production utilizing national heritage.

The Dong-A University Department of Archaeology and Art History startup club ‘H.tag’ (Team Leader Lee Areum, members Song Hyekyung, Lee Jiyeon, Lee Chaehyun, Kim Sumi) created an intangible heritage platform called ‘Yoo-it (Connecting Heritage)’ and was selected as the outstanding team (1st place) among seven teams that passed the document screening and reached the final review.

The outstanding team will receive customized post-consulting support.

The Dong-A University H.tag team proposed ‘Yoo-it’ as a solution to protect and spread intangible heritage, which is increasingly at risk of disappearing. ‘Yoo-it’ is an online intangible heritage platform that serves as a bridge between intangible heritage bearers and the public under the slogan “Inflow into culture, connecting Yoo-it.”

To improve the treatment of intangible heritage bearers and public awareness, the H.tag team planned the platform by building a database integrating information on traditional artists and related institutions, thereby creating a connection point with the public.

Notably, before the startup camp, they identified the limitations of existing national heritage-related projects through problem recognition and directly communicated with intangible heritage bearers to hear voices from the field. Based on insights gained from meetings with intangible heritage bearers, they concretized the platform concept and systematically collected information on intangible heritage holders and related institutions, which was highly evaluated in the development of their business plan.

During the startup camp, the H.tag team analyzed social awareness of intangible heritage through mentoring and surveys and established strategies for effective business progress based on this. The initial phase of the platform includes building a domestic intangible heritage-related database and refining the business plan. Subsequently, they plan to launch a website and social media accounts to raise interest in intangible heritage.

The H.tag team stated, “We want to become a connection point that allows the public to access intangible heritage more easily and conveniently. Being selected as an outstanding team has become an opportunity to announce a new attempt to protect and pass on intangible heritage, and we expect the ‘Yoo-it’ platform to play an important role in continuing the value of intangible heritage.” They added, “We are pleased to be selected as an outstanding team at the first-ever 2-day 1-night National Heritage Startup Camp held at the 2024 World National Heritage Industry Expo.”

Team of students from the Department of Archaeology and Art History at Dong-A University selected as an outstanding team at the 2024 World Heritage Industry Exhibition Startup Camp.