Hamyang-gun, Traditional Hanji Artisan Sangok Lee Designated as 'Gyeongnam Province Intangible Cultural Property No. 46'

Following the Designation of the 'Mireukwon' Bronze Bell as Treasure No. 2019 in January, the Second Cultural Property Designation This Year

Master Hanji Artisan Sang-ok Lee
[Image source=Hamyang-gun]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Hamyang-gun, Gyeongnam announced on the 2nd that following the designation of the 'Mireukwon' inscribed bronze drum (Treasure No. 2109) as a cultural asset in January this year, traditional hanji artisan Lee Sang-ok from Hamyang was officially designated as the holder of Gyeongnam Province Intangible Cultural Property for hanji making on the 1st.

The 'Mireukwon' inscribed bronze drum (彌勒院 銘 金鼓), designated as a treasure in January this year, is an outstanding work among Goryeo Dynasty bronze drums with excellent preservation. It was made 455 years earlier than the Yeongcheon Eunhyesa bronze drum (Treasure No. 1604), which dates back to 1646.

This piece clearly demonstrates the production aspects of Goryeo Dynasty bronze drums, featuring a relatively large size that reveals the production year, key figures involved, and reasons for creation, as well as excellent form and superior casting techniques.

Hamyang-gun first submitted an application for national cultural asset designation in 2018, underwent an on-site investigation related to the treasure designation application in June 2020, and passed the Cultural Heritage Committee in October 2020. Subsequently, it was designated as a national treasure on January 5th and is currently housed at Deunggu-sa Temple located in Macheon-myeon.

Additionally, on April 1st, Lee Sang-ok, a hanji artisan from Macheon-myeon, Hamyang-gun, who produces hanji using traditional methods, was officially designated as the holder of Gyeongsangnam-do Intangible Cultural Property No. 46 for hanji making.

Artisan Lee Sang-ok has been producing traditional hanji using the traditional technique of "Heullimtteugi" (single-footed paper making, Eumyangji) for over 60 years in Changwon Village, Macheon-myeon, Hamyang-gun. He also cultivates approximately 70,000 dak trees on a 10,000-pyeong cultivation site himself.

At the Intangible Cultural Property Subcommittee meeting held on March 22nd, he was evaluated as having very high future transmission value, possessing not only traditional hanji manufacturing techniques but also the cultivation techniques for raw materials such as dak trees and Hwangchokgyu.

A county official stated, "We will continue to make every effort to have various cultural heritages in Hamyang-gun additionally designated as cultural assets," and added, "We will do our best to ensure that the designated cultural assets are systematically preserved and utilized."

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