Suncheon National University Jirisan Area Culture Research Institute Selected for Korea Research Foundation Humanities and Social Sciences Research Institute Support Project

[Suncheon=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Suncheon National University (President Ko Young-jin) Jirisan Area Culture Research Institute announced on the 15th that it has been finally selected for the “Korea Research Foundation Humanities and Social Sciences Research Institute Support Project” supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea.

The Humanities and Social Sciences Research Institute Support Project is a program aimed at fostering university research institutes and domestic research organizations as specialized research hubs and nurturing next-generation researchers. Among a total of 259 project applications this year, 43 new projects were finally selected.

Suncheon National University Jirisan Area Culture Research Institute (Director Lee Wook) will receive about 1.8 billion KRW over six years until 2027 from the National Research Foundation of Korea through this new project selection to conduct research under the theme of “Restoration of the Historical Prototype of Korean Traditional Tea Processing Techniques and Establishment of a Database for Modern Succession.”

Tea was initially used as medicine but gradually expanded its function as a beverage for enjoyment. Furthermore, the process of drinking tea became associated with various rituals, serving as a medium to form social networks and fulfilling multiple roles.

Recently, tea drinking has gained more attention as a so-called wellness beverage and health functional food that provides mental and physical relaxation, highlighting the importance of research on Korean traditional tea and tea culture, which have history, tradition, and value.

This research aims to provide basic data to strengthen the international competitiveness of the Korean traditional tea industry.

By building a database of materials for restoring the original form of Korean traditional tea processing techniques and tea culture, the project not only accumulates foundational data for restoring and inheriting traditional tea but also discovers original sources for the historical and cultural content of Korean traditional tea culture to be utilized in various fields, which is significant.

Director Lee Wook of Suncheon National University Research Institute said, “Jirisan is known as the first place in Korea where tea was cultivated, and the adjacent cities and counties are still representative tea-producing areas. Combined with the characteristics of the eastern Jeollanam-do region, which values ecology and environment, tea cultivation and industry development are closely linked to regional economic revitalization.” He added, “Based on this research project, we want to seek a breakthrough for the Korean traditional tea industry, which has struggled due to the popularity of imported teas such as coffee and Pu-erh tea, and create a business model case where universities and local governments in the region coexist and develop.”

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