Uisanseowon Utilization Program "Scholars in Bloom"
Only 4 Selected Out of 90 Projects Nationwide
Yeongju City celebrated being selected as an outstanding project in the field of utilizing Hyanggyo and Seowon cultural heritage in the 2025 'Our Hometown National Heritage Utilization Project,' organized by the National Heritage Administration. The award ceremony took place on December 18 at the Jeontongnaraegwan in Daejeon.
The 'Outstanding Our Hometown National Heritage Utilization Project' is a competitive initiative by the National Heritage Administration, covering five fields: Hyanggyo and Seowon cultural heritage, Living National Heritage, National Heritage Night Tour, Traditional Temple Cultural Heritage, and Old Houses and Jongga Utilization Projects. Projects are comprehensively evaluated based on the creativity of heritage utilization planning, the completeness of program operation, and their potential for development as cultural tourism content, with outstanding projects selected accordingly.
The program selected as an outstanding project this time is the Uisanseowon Utilization Project, titled 'Scholars in Bloom.' Out of 90 Hyanggyo and Seowon cultural heritage utilization projects nationwide, only four were chosen as outstanding projects.
This program received high marks for offering experience-based content at Uisanseowon, a Gyeongsangbuk-do Monument, targeting both children and foreigners. Planned and operated by the Cultural Heritage Utilization Promotion Association (led by Kim Youngcho), it presented a creative puppet show for local children, based on the life of Lee Gaerip, a figure enshrined at Uisanseowon.
Additionally, the program incorporated familiar games such as 'Mugunghwa Flower Has Bloomed' with elements of scholar culture, allowing participants to easily and naturally experience traditional culture and heritage. For foreigners, the program offered opportunities to wear traditional scholar attire such as yusaengbok and gat, and to participate in a reenactment of the traditional civil service examination themed around Korean culture, providing a direct K-culture experience in Yeongju.
The program was held a total of 16 times, with 387 participants experiencing the value and charm of Yeongju City's cultural heritage firsthand.
Cho Jonggeun, Head of the Culture and Arts Division of Yeongju City, stated, "Being selected as an outstanding project by the National Heritage Administration is recognition of the excellence and potential of Yeongju City's cultural heritage," adding, "We will continue to promote a variety of national heritage utilization projects to expand citizens' opportunities to enjoy cultural heritage and contribute to revitalizing the local economy."
The Cultural Heritage Utilization Promotion Association was also selected for an outstanding project in 2023 with the Living National Heritage Utilization Project 'The Guardian of the 1,500-Year-Old Mural Tombs,' and is recognized as a group with expertise and planning capability in the field of national heritage utilization.
Yeongju City is conducting a program where participants wear traditional silk garments and learn etiquette, as well as listen to stories about Uisanseowon.
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