National Heritage Administration Announces Preliminary Recognition of Kim Youngseong, Lee Gwangbok, and Cho Jaeryang
Kim Youngryeol, Transmission Educator of Traditional Instrument Making, Named Honorary Holder
It is expected that there will be three new holders of the title "Daemokjang," master carpenters who oversee the entire process of traditional wooden architecture.
On August 1, the National Heritage Administration announced its preliminary decision to recognize Kim Youngseong (67), Lee Gwangbok (64), and Cho Jaeryang (58) as holders of the national intangible cultural heritage "Daemokjang." The administration plans to collect and review opinions from various sectors for one month, and will make a final decision on their recognition after deliberation by the Intangible Heritage Committee.
Daemokjang refers to master carpenters responsible for the entire process of designing, constructing, and supervising traditional wooden architecture. The term also refers to the chief architects who build palaces, temples, and military facilities. The three masters were qualified through a process that included a document review, on-site inspection, and evaluation by the Intangible Heritage Committee last year.
Kim Youngseong learned his skills from the late Go Taekyoung starting in 1977 and became a certified trainee in 1997. He was recognized as a transmission educator in 2000 and as a holder of intangible cultural heritage in Jeonnam Province in 2021, dedicating himself to teaching traditional tools and techniques.
Lee Kwangbok, who has been preliminarily recognized as a holder of the National Intangible Heritage Master Carpenter title
Lee Gwangbok honed his Daemokjang skills with the help of the late Cho Heehwan and the late Shin Younghoon, and has worked as a chief architect for over 20 years. He is especially active in the construction, repair, and restoration of traditional temples.
Cho Jaeryang continues the lineage of palace architecture passed down through Choi Wonsik, Cho Wonjae, Lee Gwanggyu, and Shin Eungsu. He was trained by former Daemokjang holder Shin Eungsu starting in 1996 and became a certified trainee in 2006. Since then, he has been responsible for the restoration and repair of national heritage sites as a chief architect.
Currently, the only recognized holder of the national intangible cultural heritage Daemokjang is Choi Kiyoung, who was recognized in 2000. A representative from the National Heritage Administration stated, "If three more holders are recognized this time, we expect it will bring new vitality to the field of transmission."
Meanwhile, on the same day, the National Heritage Administration also announced its preliminary decision to recognize Kim Youngryeol, a transmission educator in traditional instrument making, as an honorary holder. He was recognized as a transmission educator in 2005 and has contributed to the training and transmission of string instrument making for over 20 years.
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