Field Report
memorial rites for him were, and are still, conducted at the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Urban shrine. In ", a repository was established at the shrine to archive daily accounts on the words and acts of all the Joseon king as well as state a#airs. e records were kept to guide the Regeneration—the Case of Jeonju City, Korea kings down the right path. Daily accounts on the governors’ activities were also recorded. Such documentation practices Jeong Duk Yi were in$uenced by Confucianism, which emphasized the Professor, Dept. of Cultural Anthropology, Chonbuk National University importance of re$ecting on one’s actions. e in$uence of Confucian culture is also evident in Confucian schools. e Jeonju Confucian School (JCS) in Jeonju Hanok Village enshrines tablets of Confucian scholars of China and Joseon, including Confucius, Mencius, and Zengzi. Confucian schools were ocial educational institu- tions where students commemorated great scholars through History and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Jeonju ( - ), who served as a senior ocial in Jeonju, described memorial rituals and learned the teachings from the scholars’ Jeonju is the most popular city in Korea for its traditional in his book, Dongguk Isangguk Jip ( Collected Works of Minister books. At JCS, rites for Confucius and other Confucian schol- culture. Jeonju is ranked number one in terms of the number Gyu-bo Lee ), residents visiting Gyeongboksa Temple to cele- ars is still held every spring and fall. A Western-style school of living human treasures, the cultural heritage index, and the brate Buddha’s Birthday, praying to the Dragon King for rain system was introduced during the late Joseon period, and traditional cultural and art performance index, indicating that on Deokjin Lake, and worshiping village gods during Dano today JCS provides classes on traditional manners, calligraphy, traditional culture is more actively practiced and performed (a traditional festival). ese suggest that Buddhist and folk and Confucianism. Confucian ethics and thoughts are still in the city than any other city in the country. Against this culture were prevalent at that time. Records show that musical relevant in Jeonju. backdrop, the Korean government designated Jeonju a tra- performances and plays were performed to celebrate Buddha’s Jeonju was a provincial capital city during the Joseon ditional cultural city, and traditional culture has been at the Birthday and Dano during the Goryeo Dynasty. It is therefore Dynasty. e provincial government carried out various heart of the urban-development strategies of Jeonju. e city’s assumed that they were also performed in Jeonju on the same cultural projects in the city, including distributing books rich traditional culture dates far back in history. occasions. that were made through woodblock printing on hanji (tra- It is presumed that the area of present-day Jeonju has been e Joseon Dynasty ( - !) suppressed Buddhism and ditional mulberry paper). e main subjects were related inhabited since the prehistoric era, as paleolithic relics and adopted Confucianism as the state religion. Confucianism to Confucianism, ethics, agriculture, and medicine. Jeonju dolmens were discovered in the area. But, the geographical emerged in many regions, including Jeonju, while Buddhist played an important role in book publishing, as the abun- name rst appeared in historical records in . Jeonju was culture waned. As Seong-gye Yi ( - !), the founder of dance of clear water and mulberry trees in the area enabled the seat of the provincial government as it is now. Records Joseon, came from the Jeonju Yi clan, Jeonju was considered quality paper production. In the late Joseon period, large vol- on intangible cultural heritage of the city were rst found in the cradle of the Joseon Dynasty. Gyeonggijeon Shrine was umes of books were published and sold nationwide. Quality literature from the Goryeo Dynasty ( - ). Gyu-bo Lee established in the city to honor the founder, and various paper production also led to stimulating relevant activities Tourist in traditional Korean attire, hanbok © Jeonju City such as publication, painting, and hanji cra%s. Hapjukseon (folding fans) or taegeukseon (fans with the yin-yang symbol), made from locally produced paper, were o#ered to the king. winners performed in the royal palace or in the houses of During the Joseon Dynasty, Jeonju was the most vibrant senior ocials and got paid reasonably well in return. Some of local city for music performances. e provincial governor, them were even o#ered public posts. Performers and singers, also acting as the regional commander, brought soldiers from who belonged to the shaman association in Jeonju, presented around Jeolla Province to conduct a large-scale military drills performances at government events, birthday celebrations every winter. On the last day, to entertain soldiers, a large feast for district magistrates, events related to state examinations, was held with various musical performances and plays that village rituals, and rites for rain, and, in exchange, the per- continued throughout the night. In Jeolla Province, shamanic formers were exempt from taxation, military duty, and forced rituals were widely performed, from which shamanic songs labor. ey also performed at civilian birthday parties and naturally developed. Over time, the narratives of gods were wedding ceremonies and received money or grain in return. replaced by ordinary stories, which led to the development of On a market day, pansori singers appeared on a temporary pansori (a genre of musical storytelling). e provincial gov- stage in the marketplace and sang “Chunhyangga,” one of the ernor and the city mayor called in the best pansori singers in most popular pansori songs, which drew massive audiences. the country for competitions and performances. Competition As such, Jeonju became the national center of pansori.
Night view of Hanok Village © Jeonju City
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Dano-je (Dano festival) of Jeonju was a major national people living in shabby hanok (traditional houses). e inner On the other hand, the city government made e#orts festival since the Goryeo period. It was believed that washing city continued to face an increasing number of empty houses to ensure that diverse contents on traditional culture were one’s hair in Deokjin Lake would make hair shiny and help and worsening environments. concentrated on the village. Traditional cultural festivals and heal illnesses or stay healthy. During the festival period, To address the situation, the city government took advan- programs were primarily held in the village. People were the lake drew people from not just Jeolla Province but also tage of the !! FIFA World Cup as Jeonju was one of the given support when they were planning to start new programs Chungcheong and Gyeongsang provinces. Having deep clear host cities. e e#orts involved transforming the old urban related to traditional culture in the village. Traditional house water, Deokjin Lake was an ideal place for bathing, especially center (Jeonju Hanok Village) into a place that could o#er construction was supported with up to KRW ! million while during short breaks a%er the rice planting season. In , as attractions and experiences related to traditional culture for construction of any other types of structures was prohibited. many as !,!!! women went to the lake to wash their hair. A World Cup visitors. e focus was put on traditional culture, Information panels were put up to explain the history and large open market was established to serve the crowds with as Jeonju was the most traditional city in the country. Main culture of each tourist site. Traditional gardens, pavilions, and food and drinks. In parallel, various performances and plays, program initiatives were designed to allow visitors to learn water channels were built along the main road. Tour guides such as traditional wrestling and swing, took place. traditional music; experience making traditional paper, fans, were put on standby to provide visitors with explanations and cra%s; learn traditional manners and customs while about the history and culture of each site. Regenerating the Old Inner City and wearing traditional attire; stay overnight in traditional houses; As the result of the e#orts, Jeonju Hanok Village has Intangible Cultural Heritage and make or eat popular local foods. Traditional cultural become the richest center of traditional culture in Korea. e Urban development in Korea had focused on developing new festivals, such as Dano-je (renamed to Pungnam-je) and the city government requested the central government to desig- towns on the outskirts of cities, as suburban areas were less Jeonju International Sori Festival, were directed to move their nate the city as a traditional cultural city and provide support inhabited, and thus developers were less likely to face sti# venues to the old urban center. Stages were established for tra- for development. e request was accepted, and in the process, resistance from residents over development issues. e old ditional cultural performances, and street performances and the National Intangible Heritage Center and the Korean urban centers’ populations dwindle, however, as residents, events were also organized for weekends. Simply put, the city Traditional Culture Center were established close to the Reenacting the ritual of enshrining portraits of the king © Jeonju City commercial facilities, and government oces moved from remodeled Jeonju Hanok Village into a place where one can village to provide various traditional cultural performances existing urban centers to new towns, which resulted in old enjoy and learn traditional culture, performances, and cuisine and cra%s programs. ere are also night tour programs to urban centers turning into ghettos. all at once. allow visitors to explore and experience traditional culture As such, Jeonju shows the highest rate of attendance and at was also the case of Jeonju. In the !s, the city e city government opened the doors of Gyeonggijeon under the moonlight. Meanwhile, Jeonju was designated as participation in traditional culture. Traditional culture is successfully expanded with a large-scale development of new Shrine and Jeonju Confucian School, which had been closed a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and a Slow City. It was also like air to the residents. Traditional culture can be found suburban towns. In the !s, people, especially high-income for conservation, and signicantly expanded traditional cul- selected as a must-visit Asian city. in every aspect of life. Jeonju indeed is regarded as the best earners and young generations, moved to apartment ture programs. It also encouraged various traditional culture Jeonju Hanok Village has now become the best traditional representation of traditional Korean culture. e critical role complexes in the new towns. Major government oces of events in the village. e city and private entities built several tourist destination among tourist attractions developed since of traditional culture is also re$ected in urban development Jeollabuk Province, including the provincial oce, the police facilities to o#er diverse experience programs related to the !!!s. e number of visitors increased from almost none strategies. Jeonju successfully transformed the once barren agency, and the oce of education, were relocated to the traditional culture. ese included various experience centers, in !!! to over ten million in ! . With a signicant increase inner-city area into a national tourist destination. e expe- new towns. All this accelerated the decline of the inner city. museums, and performance halls. in visitors, however, there are concerns that the village might rience suggests the possibility of urban development based Consequently, the inner city was mostly occupied by elderly lose its core elements of traditional culture that has enabled on traditional culture. It is now believed that we can move visitors to enjoy and experience traditional intangible culture forward, not backward, by transmitting and practicing tradi- of Korea, as performances and foods that feature a mix of tional culture. tradition and modern or a fusion of indigenous and foreign e city government is about to take steps to develop the Gyeonggijeon Shrine, snow covered in winter © Jeonju City cultures are increasingly taking holding. If the village fails city as an international cultural city with more diverse cultural to maintain authenticity of traditional intangible culture, it contents. It aims to make the entire city a place that allows vis- might not be as attractive as it is now. itors to experience both traditional and modern culture and arts by enhancing the image of the city as the best cultural and Jeonju’s Identity and Intangible Cultural Heritage art city in Korea; promoting the city as a traditional center for As Jeonju was the home of Seong-gye Yi, the Joseon Dynasty future tourism; fostering the city as a traditional cultural her- founder, there are shrines that hold portraits of the king and itage city where the past and the future coexist; and forming a memorial tablets for the Jeonju Yi family. e city also takes sustainable premium hanok village. In this way, the rich intan- pride in its distinguished publication culture and Confucian gible cultural heritage of the city can re$ect a unique blend traditions. A traditional music contest, which started during of tradition and modernity. e operation of various cultural the Joseon Dynasty, attracted the best traditional singers from facilities, such as cultural houses and living culture centers, is across the country to perform in Jeonju. Jeonju naturally more active than in any other city in the country, which is to became the home to several renowned singers and apprecia- ensure that culture and arts can be enjoyed by the residents in tors of traditional music. Such legacies made Jeonju the most their daily lives. e city will encourage greater voluntary par- prominent Korean city with intangible cultural heritage. ticipation of residents in cultural and art activities to further promote tourism and industry.
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