Gyeonggi Northern Bonka Yangju City, Year-Round 'Local History Artifact Donation and Deposit Campaign' Underway

All Artifacts and Materials Depicting the Historical and Cultural Changes of Yangju from Prehistoric to Joseon Dynasty Periods

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-chul] Yangju City in Gyeonggi Province is conducting a year-round campaign for the donation and consignment of artifacts related to the local traditional history.

According to the city on the 30th, the donation and consignment targets include all artifacts or materials that capture the historical and cultural changes of Yangju from prehistoric times to the Joseon Dynasty.

In particular, the city plans to prioritize receiving donations of royal and Buddhist cultural artifacts related to Hoamsaji Temple Site, including historical books, old documents, and old maps related to Yangju's history.

However, materials acquired illegally such as stolen or looted items, artifacts with potential controversies regarding ownership or acquisition process, and artifacts severely damaged to the point of having no cultural value will be excluded from the donation and consignment targets.

This campaign aims to create a museum built together with citizens through voluntary participation in artifact donation and consignment, and to establish a foundation for regional cultural prosperity through preservation, research, exhibition, and education of the donated artifacts.

Anyone who owns artifacts can apply for donation and consignment throughout the year by expressing their intention via email (brahm81@korea.kr) or mail (11 Hoamsa-gil, Yangju-si).

Donors who donate their artifacts will receive special benefits such as issuance of donation certificates, presentation of appreciation plaques, invitations to museum events, and having their names displayed when the donated artifacts are exhibited, depending on the value and quantity of the artifacts.

The donated artifacts will be permanently preserved after being registered as museum collections and utilized for museum exhibitions, research, and educational materials.

Important artifacts will be submitted for cultural heritage designation, and urgent conservation of cultural properties will be restored and repaired using the city’s own budget.

Yangju City is known as the main home (本家) of northern Gyeonggi Province, encompassing parts of Seoul’s Eunpyeong-gu, Dobong-gu, Gangbuk-gu, Nowon-gu, Jungnang-gu, as well as parts of Uijeongbu, Dongducheon, Namyangju, Guri, Yeoncheon County, and Goyang City. It is recognized as the cradle of northern Gyeonggi administrative history.

In particular, it holds various assets of historical and academic value, including the Joseon Royal Tomb 'Onneung,' which is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Yangju Hoamsaji Temple Site (Historic Site No. 128), Yangju Daemosanseong Fortress (Historic Site No. 526), Yangju Government Office Site (Gyeonggi Province Monument No. 167), and 25 Goguryeo relics.

Mayor Lee Seong-ho of Yangju said, "The donation and consignment of artifacts is the first step in practicing love for cultural heritage by preserving precious legacies imbued with the breath and spirit of our ancestors and passing them on as valuable cultural heritage to future generations." He added, "We hope for active participation and interest from citizens who love cultural heritage."

Meanwhile, last year, the city received three items including the 'Portrait of An Pyo and Official Documents' from the Juksan An family, which are being promoted for designation as cultural heritage of Gyeonggi Province and were designated as Gyeonggi Province Tangible Cultural Property No. 363.

Earlier, in 2015, the Yangju City Hoamsaji Museum received two artifacts including a 'Precious Sword and Jade Ornament' from the Haepyeong Yun clan’s Haean-gun branch and held a special exhibition titled "Woljeong Yun Geun-su, Traces Left by a Lonely Loyalty Brush."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.