Andong City Launches Urban Seodang Humanities Program ... Introducing a New Approach to Humanities

Expanding Intergenerational Communication and Cultural Literacy
Through Shared Readings of "Romance of the Three Kingdoms"

Andong City in Gyeongbuk is launching a new humanities program to further elevate the status of "Cultural City Andong."

Exterior view of the government office in Andong, Gyeongbuk. Photo by Byunggun Kwon

On August 29, Andong City and the Korea Institute of Spiritual Culture announced that they will operate the "Urban Seodang" (Urban Village School) as part of the 2025 Cultural City strategic project, starting from September 4.

The Urban Seodang, which develops thinking and communication skills through the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, will be held a total of 18 times (every Tuesday and Thursday). The program will feature a former MBC announcer as a guest, under the theme "Reading the Romance of the Three Kingdoms with an Announcer."

The program aims to foster citizens' thinking and communication skills by combining the study of idioms and Chinese characters from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, reading aloud with accurate pronunciation, and discussions on East Asian history and current affairs.

Additionally, the program will offer a variety of liberal arts courses, including reading the Mokminsimseo and Hunminjeongeum, special lectures by experts, and historical and cultural field trips, creating a multidimensional learning environment that goes beyond simple reading.

Humanities for Everyday Life, Bridging Generations A foundation representative stated, "This Urban Seodang will promote communication between generations by encouraging participation from a wide range of age groups," adding, "We hope it will become an enjoyable, practical liberal arts program that brings new energy to everyday life."

Andong City plans to link this initiative with the slogan "A City of Traditional Culture Enjoyed Through Play," establishing a citizen-participatory cultural city model and expanding it into a cultural cooperation project for the northern Gyeongbuk region in the future.

Citizen Participation Recruitment For this Urban Seodang, Andong will recruit 30 participants on a first-come, first-served basis. The lectures will be held at the Jungangseon 1942 Andong Station Culture Hall. Andong City stated, "Active participation from citizens in the cultural city will strengthen the region's identity and serve as a foundation for building a cultural community."