Gyeonggi Province Rolls Out Nation's Largest Intangible Cultural Heritage Transmission Enhancement Plan from This Month

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hoon] As concerns mount over the disruption of intangible cultural heritage transmission systems due to the aging of cultural property holders and the suspension of performances and lessons caused by COVID-19, Gyeonggi Province is significantly strengthening its support.

Gyeonggi Province announced on the 9th that it has prepared an 'Intangible Cultural Heritage Transmission Enhancement Plan,' with main components including the nation's largest-scale economic support for intangible cultural heritage group and individual programs, expansion of transmission scholarship students, and establishment of a new successor support fund, which will be implemented from this month.

According to the province's tally, among 68 intangible cultural heritage programs in Gyeonggi Province, 6 programs lack holders and 34 programs lack transmission educators, making it urgent to provide support to maintain the transmission system.

Accordingly, the province will push forward ▲support for transmission equipment and material purchases ▲provision of scholarships and activity funds targeting holders, transmission educators, successors, and transmission students for all 68 intangible cultural heritage programs.

Beginning in May, a needs survey will be conducted for transmission equipment and materials for all 68 intangible cultural heritage programs, and equipment, materials, and consumables necessary for performances and artwork production will be supported for purchase.

The province aims to secure continuity of the transmission system by building the economic self-sufficiency of holders and successors.

By program type, group programs (21) can receive approximately 3 million won worth of goods, and individual programs (47) can receive approximately 1.5 million won worth of goods.

For example, the province will purchase Gyeonggi Geommu (sword dance) costumes needed for the performance of Gyeonggi Province Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 53 and provide them to program stakeholders (holders, transmission educators, etc.). Support for all programs represents the nation's largest scale.

Alongside this, support funds by transmission stage will be expanded and newly established. Intangible cultural heritage transmission stages are divided into transmission students (entry level), successors (after 3 or more years of education and examination), transmission educators (after 5 or more years of transmission activities following succession, decided through deliberation by the Gyeonggi Province Cultural Heritage Committee), and holders (decided through deliberation by the Gyeonggi Province Cultural Heritage Committee).

Looking at the support by transmission stage, transmission students who have received 6 or more months of transmission education and have aptitude in the skills or arts of the relevant Gyeonggi Province intangible cultural heritage, or individuals who have engaged in Gyeonggi Province intangible cultural heritage field activities for 1 or more years, will be selected as transmission scholarship students and receive 250,000 won monthly for 5 years.

Currently, transmission scholarship students are selected from only 32 applicants due to an age requirement of 18-40 years old, but the province plans to amend its rules in June by abolishing the age requirement and support 68 students from the latter half of the year.

By the end of this year, approximately 15 outstanding successors will be selected and provided with capacity building and research activity funds at approximately 8 million won per person.

Previously, there was no support for successors, but the legal basis was established through an amendment to relevant ordinances at the Gyeonggi Province Council extraordinary session in April.

Activity fund support will continue for transmission educators (600,000 won monthly) and holders (1.4 million won monthly).

Kim Jong-seok, Director of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, stated, "We will build a comprehensive step-by-step support system for each transmission stage to preserve our precious intangible heritage," and added, "We will continue to make efforts so that the roots of our cultural heritage do not fall and bloom beautifully."

Intangible cultural heritage, designated to preserve traditional music, dance, theater, craft techniques, and others, is divided into national intangible cultural heritage under the jurisdiction of the Cultural Heritage Administration and city and provincial intangible cultural heritage directly managed by regional governments.

Gyeonggi Province intangible cultural heritage includes 68 programs: starting with No. 1 Gyemyeong-ju (folk liquor), 10 music programs, 5 dance programs, 13 play and ritual programs, 37 craft technique programs, and 3 food programs.