The 'Sambari' That Weaved Through Narrow Alleys Becomes a Cultural Heritage Site

Cultural Heritage Administration Announces Registration of Kia Master T600 and Sangjae Lee Records as Cultural Heritage

Records related to Isangjae of the Joseon Legation in the United States and the Kia Masta T600 (a light three-wheeled truck used for transporting Lotte Confectionery products) are being designated as cultural heritage. On the 11th, the Cultural Heritage Administration announced the preliminary registration of these two artifacts as cultural heritage and registered the former Chungcheongnam-do Police Agency office building in Daejeon as a cultural heritage site. The former will undergo a one-month period of public consultation and a review by the Cultural Heritage Committee to finalize the registration decision.

Isangjae (1850?1927) was a secretary who accompanied Park Jeongyang, the first minister of the Joseon Legation in the United States in 1888. The related records include handwritten copies of major diplomatic documents created at the time and letters sent to his family. The former consists of a Korean translation of the Chinese text of the correspondence between the U.S. government and the Joseon Legation, along with notes on diplomatic activities. The latter, titled "Miguk Seogan (美國書簡)," contains personal family matters. These documents vividly reveal aspects such as American democracy at the time, the legation’s rent (cost of living), and difficulties in carrying out duties due to the Qing Dynasty. The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, "These materials allow us to confirm the reality of the Washington Legation, which Joseon first established in a Western country, early data on the construction of the Gyeongin Railway, and efforts toward independent diplomatic activities."

The Kia Masta T600 is a three-wheeled cargo vehicle assembled and produced in 1972 by Kia Industries (the predecessor of Kia Motors). It was affectionately called "Sambari" (a Gangwon-do dialect term for three-wheeled vehicles) and was widely loved. It is credited with establishing a revolutionary foundation for freight transportation by skillfully navigating narrow alleyways. Notably, in 1976, an additional cargo compartment was installed, making it very useful for operating Lotte Confectionery dealerships. The vehicle announced for cultural heritage designation is located in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul. The Cultural Heritage Administration stated, "The vehicle is well preserved in its original form to the extent that it is still registered," adding, "It holds significant value in terms of 1970s daily life and the development history of the automobile industry."

The former Chungcheongnam-do Police Agency office building in Daejeon, registered as cultural heritage, was constructed in 1963 as the Chungcheongnam-do Police School with economic support from the United States. The site previously housed the Chungnam Mudeokjeon, where martial arts competitions were held during the Japanese colonial period. The police school was built on the remaining foundation, covering an area of 522㎡. The Cultural Heritage Administration evaluated, "It has a unique architectural history that reflects the post-Korean War era," and added, "Its use as a sports facility in the local community makes it sufficiently valuable to preserve as a modern cultural heritage."

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