Lectures and hands-on experiences on themes including ‘Intangible Heritage, Talchum (Mask Dance), Jongmyo Shrine and Jongmyo Jerye (Royal Ancestral Ritual), Gat (Traditional Hat), Gwaebul (Large Buddhist Banner Painting), and Maedeup (Knot)’ held every Saturday for 5 weeks (Oct. 25 – Nov. 22)
The K-Heritage International Center (Director Shin Suk) at the Korea National University of Heritage (KNUH, President Kang Kyeong-hwan), under Korea Heritage Service, successfully concluded its K-Heritage Leadership Program, which was held every Saturday from October 25 to November 22.
First launched in October last year, this year’s second program included lectures on Korea’s intangible heritage, the Jongmyo Jerye, the traditional Gat, the Gwaebul, and traditional Maedeup, along with hands-on activities such as a Talchum (mask dance) workshop, a tour of Jongmyo Shrine, making traditional Gat and Maedeup, and a studio visit to a paper cultural heritage restoration. The instructors consisted of KNUH professors, an international organization expert, and holders/certified practitioners of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
A total of 14 professionals residing in Korea from 11 countries, including diplomats, administrative officers, teachers, artists, and broadcasters, participated in this year’s program, working in diverse fields such as culture, diplomacy, education, international exchange, and entertainment. Among the 12 participants who responded to the survey, 10 answered that they were ‘highly satisfied’ with the program. When asked about the unique strengths of the program, respondents cited the ‘Experience-centered curriculum’ most highly, followed by the ‘Expertise of the instructors’. Participants shared their impressions of the program, mentioning major takeaways such as: “I gained a better understanding of Korean culture,” “Learning Korean culture improves the quality of life in Korea,” “I learned more about KNUH programs,” “I was able to make new friends,” and “It helped in forming networks.”
This program is part of the ‘K-Heritage Academy’, a non-degree heritage education course for foreigners that KNUH has been operating since 2023, aimed at providing opportunities for systematic experience with Korea’s National Heritage, which are often lacking for foreign residents. KNUH, a national university specialized in the field of National Heritage, strives to fulfill its social role and responsibility of providing Korean heritage education not only to its students but also to people worldwide. Especially amidst growing interest in Korean culture and arts, the university is making efforts to offer high-quality Korean heritage education to foreign residents in Korea through such programs. The university aims to expand its global network and broaden the basis for international exchange among its students through this initiative.