Kim Samdaeja and Kim Hyeongon Awarded Silver Crown Cultural Medal for Cultural Heritage Protection

Kim Yongrae and Lee Jaesun Awarded the Preservation Culture Medal

Kim Samdaeja, former member of the Cultural Heritage Administration’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Subcommittee, and Kim Hyungon, holder of the National Intangible Heritage Instrument Maker title, will receive the Silver Crown Cultural Medal. On the afternoon of the 8th, the Cultural Heritage Administration held an awards ceremony for contributors to cultural heritage protection at the Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation’s Folk Theater Pungnyu in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, highlighting achievements in the preservation, research, and utilization of cultural heritage. The awardees include four recipients of the Cultural Medal, six recipients of the Presidential Citation (including four organizations), and one recipient of the Prime Minister’s Citation, totaling eleven individuals.

Kim, the former committee member receiving the Silver Crown Cultural Medal, demonstrated outstanding expertise in the investigation and research of cultural heritage, focusing on wooden lacquerware and folk artifacts. In particular, he analyzed ritual wooden furniture and royal crafts from the Joseon Dynasty and studied furniture and utensils from the Unyunggung Palace, completing foundational data on royal relics. The Cultural Heritage Administration explained, “He also made significant contributions to the repatriation of rare or highly important artifacts to Korea, such as the Goryeo mother-of-pearl lacquerware 'Najeon Gukhwa Neongkulmun Hap (2020)', 'Injangham (2019)', 'Najeon Maejodukmun Hap (2021)', and 'Borok (2022)', which was made for storing royal seals (Eobo).”

Kim, the holder, is a craftsman devoted to continuing the authenticity of Korean traditional music and modernizing it. He produces pyeonjong and pyeonggyeong (bronze bells and chimes) and restores traditional Korean musical instruments such as taepyeongso, daegeum, and sogeum. He has improved instruments like the jung-eum taepyeong and low-pitched piri, and created various traditional instruments including the daegeum, modified from the hapjuk bamboo flute, and the danso, carved from ojuk bamboo.

The Silver Crown Cultural Medal will be awarded to Kim Yongrae, holder of the National Intangible Heritage Pyeongtaek Nongak title, and Lee Jaesun, holder of the National Intangible Heritage Stone Mason title. The former was a key figure in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage registration of 'Nongak' and contributed to the transmission and preservation of Pyeongtaek Nongak through consistent successor training. The latter repaired and restored numerous stone cultural heritage sites, including the Bukgwan Victory Monument, Sungnyemun Gate, Mireuksa Temple Stone Pagoda, Jigwang Guksa Hyeonmyo Pagoda, and the stone lantern at Baekjangam Hermitage of Silsangsa Temple.

The Presidential Citation goes to photographer Kang Hyungwon, Professor Jeon Bonghee of Seoul National University’s Department of Architecture, Ganam Tech Co., Ltd., the Silla Royal Tombs Preservation Society, Akdan Gwangchil, and the Imwon Economic Research Institute. Photographer Kang has illuminated and introduced outstanding Korean culture and history to the world through his photography. Professor Jeon expanded the horizons of traditional Korean architectural culture by authoring, translating, and compiling 285 papers and fifty-four books. Ganam Tech Co., Ltd. contributed to efficient budget management by producing cultural heritage information boards in modular sections that allow only the modified parts to be replaced after installation. The Silla Royal Tombs Preservation Society enhanced the value of intangible heritage by preserving and managing Gyeongju’s Sungdeokjeon Hall. The Imwon Economic Research Institute has led academic research and popularization by translating 'Imwon Gyeongjeji,' Joseon’s largest practical encyclopedia, for 21 years.

The Prime Minister’s Citation will be awarded to Hong Kyungseon, chairman of the Korea Cultural Heritage Craftsmen Association, who restored about 400 cultural heritage sites including Changgyeonggung Palace, preserving the original form of traditional architecture and recovering their historical value.

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