Jangseong-gun Holds 5th Anniversary Event for Pilamsuwon World Heritage Registration

Published 08 May.2024 16:40(KST)

Jangseong-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 8th that it will hold the "5th Anniversary Event of the Registration of Korean Seowon as a World Heritage Site" at Pilam Seowon on the 10th and 11th.

Organized by the (Foundation) Integrated Management Center for Korean Seowon World Heritage, the event is largely divided into an academic forum and a commemorative ceremony.

A commemorative event for the 5th anniversary of the inscription of Korean Seowon as a World Heritage site will be held at Pilam Seowon in Jangseong-gun on the 10th and 11th.
[Photo by Jangseong-gun]

The academic forum will be held at 2 p.m. on the 10th at Jipseonggwan Hall in Pilam Seowon.

Following the keynote speech by Professor Emeritus Lee Ki-dong of Sungkyunkwan University, representatives from nine seowon will give presentations on the theme "The Role and Function of Sustainable Seowon after World Heritage Registration."

At 11 a.m. on the 11th, a traditional ritual and photo exhibition commemorating the 5th anniversary of the World Heritage registration will be held within the Pilam Seowon grounds.

The commemorative ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on a special stage set up on the lawn plaza of Pilam Seowon.

Starting with the opening performance by the Areumdri Dance Troupe, the main event and a video screening covering the process and achievements of Korean Seowon’s World Heritage registration will be held.

About 300 people are expected to attend, including Lee Kyung-hoon, Vice Administrator of the Cultural Heritage Administration; Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do; Lee Gae-ho, Member of the National Assembly; Kim Dae-jung, Superintendent of Jeonnam Education; Kim Han-jong, Mayor of Jangseong; Ko Jae-jin, Chairman of Jangseong County Council; representatives from nine seowon; and heads of related organizations.

Mayor Kim Han-jong said, "It is meaningful to hold the 5th anniversary event of the UNESCO World Heritage registration at Jangseong Pilam Seowon," adding, "We will make thorough preparations to ensure it becomes a valuable event that highlights the value of seowon."

Meanwhile, Pilam Seowon in Jangseong, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, is a representative private educational institution of the Joseon Dynasty.

It also enshrines the Neo-Confucian scholar Ha Seo Kim In-hu (河西金麟厚, 1510?1560) and is a very important national heritage for studying the lifestyle, social, and economic conditions of scholars at that time.

Ha Seo, the teacher of King Injong, is said to have had a special bond of friendship between teacher and student despite the lord-retainer relationship. The "Mokjukdo" (Ink Bamboo Painting), personally painted and bestowed by King Injong when he was crown prince, is well known.