Jeongseon County Designates 'Jeongseon Raft Culture' and 'Nampyeong Tobang House Building Play' as Local Cultural Heritage, Laying Foundation for Tradition Succession

On November 19, Jeongseon County in Gangwon Province designated 'Jeongseon Raft Culture' and 'Nampyeong Tobang House Building Play' as local cultural heritage to preserve the region's traditional culture and community identity. The county also recognized the Jeongseon Auraji Raft Culture Preservation Association and the Nampyeong Folk Play Preservation Association as the official organizations responsible for the transmission and preservation of each heritage.

Jeongseon County, Designated as Local Cultural Heritage for 'Jeongseon Raft Culture and Nampyeong Earthen Wall House Building Play'. Provided by Jeongseon County

This designation was made in accordance with the 'Jeongseon County Local Cultural Heritage Protection Ordinance' and is regarded as the result of Jeongseon County's longstanding efforts to systematically protect local traditional culture and pass it on to future generations.

'Jeongseon Raft Culture' has been handed down as a comprehensive culture that includes not only the economic and historical value of Han River water transport, but also the community's traditional skills, knowledge, lifestyle, and play. After the raft culture, which had ceased in the 1960s, was revived through the reenactment at the 1992 Jeongseon Arirang Festival and the 1993 Auraji Raft Festival, it has since been maintained in an organized manner to this day.

In particular, the raft culture associated with Jeongseon Arirang holds historical and cultural value as it connects the region's identity and reflects the joys and sorrows of the local community. The Jeongseon Auraji Raft Culture Preservation Association, which transmits this heritage, systematically preserves the related traditional skills and knowledge through festivals and reenactment events, playing a central role in the succession of raft culture.

The other local cultural heritage, Nampyeong Tobang House Building Play, is a folk art that transforms the process of building a traditional Tobang house into a communal play. Since its first demonstration at the Jeongseon Arirang Festival, the tradition has been carried on, with local residents of Nampyeong actively participating and embodying a strong sense of community spirit.

The Nampyeong Folk Play Preservation Association, which transmits this heritage, systematically preserves the traditional skills related to Tobang house building play and continues to perform and pass down Nampyeong's unique folk play.

Kim Jaeseong, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, stated, "With this designation of local cultural heritage, we have established a foundation for the systematic protection and succession of our region's traditional culture." He added, "We plan to continue leaving meaningful cultural heritage for the local community and future generations, and to develop these assets into cultural resources that both residents and tourists can enjoy together."

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