Song Bang-ung Recognized as Honorary Holder of National Intangible Cultural Heritage Najeonjang

[Asia Economy Reporter Jonggil Lee] The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 26th that Song Bang-ung (80), the holder of the National Intangible Cultural Property for Najeonjang, has been recognized as an honorary holder. Najeonjang is a technique of creating patterns using abalone or shellfish shells and attaching them with lacquer. It has been used to decorate the surface of lacquerware since the Goryeo Dynasty. Although it faced the risk of extinction following the fall of the Joseon Dynasty, it has been protected as a National Intangible Cultural Property since liberation.

Mr. Song inherited the Najeon technique from his father Song Joo-an (1901?1981), a Najeonjang holder active in Tongyeong, Gyeongnam. From elementary school, he ran errands in the Najeon workshop and observed the work, and after graduating from high school, he seriously honed his skills. Mr. Song received the President's Award at the Traditional Craft Competition in 1985. In 1990, he was recognized as the holder of the National Intangible Cultural Property for Najeonjang (cutting stitch). He also served as the chairman of the Functional Preservation Association and the chairman of the Tongyeong Intangible Cultural Property Preservation Association. Although he has devoted himself to the production, transmission, and preservation of Najeon lacquerware works, he recently became an honorary holder due to difficulties in continuing transmission activities for health reasons.

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