Mayor Choi hopes to reinvigorate Korea’s traditional culture

GANGNEUNG, Gangwon Province ― Gangneung in Gangwon Province is located at the foot of Daegwallyeong on the east coast, making it feel somewhat isolated and remote, even in this age of air travel and high-speed trains.

However, the geography that was once an obstacle for the local economy has worked magic for the preservation of traditional culture and the Korean spirit that is now reaching out to the world, said Choi Myeong-hee, mayor of the city. 

“In the more industrialized zones, traditions have faded from memory or changed, remembered by few people. But in Gangneung, where the change in the overall society has been slow, all our heritage has been kept in its original form and is cherished and inherited by ordinary citizens,” Choi said in an interview with The Korea Herald on Monday. 

That spirit has also pushed Gangneung to flaunt its charms to the world.

From Oct. 19-28, the eastern port city is hosting the Inter-City Cooperation Network World Intangible Culture Festival featuring dance, shamanism rituals, music, craftsmanship and other examples of culture from 21 countries around the world.

Performers are showcasing Argentina’s tango, the centuries-old Spanish drama “Misteri d’El,” Czech Republic’s “Ride of the Kings” traditional horse procession and more, filling the air of the city with passion and excitement, the organization committee said.

It is also the first gathering of 16 Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity designated by UNESCO.

As the host, Gangneung is featuring “Gwanno Mask Drama,” “Gangneung Farm Music,” “Haksanodokddegi, (rice planting)” and “Hapyoung Dapkyonori (stomping on the bridge)” as well as craftsmen workshops, traditional wedding ceremonies and even an exhibition of traditional implements used to punish criminals.

Also during the festival period, the delegations from each member city are sharing problems that they face today, such as the aging of artists and craftsmen, as well as discussing the creation of an international network to preserve traditional culture.

A youth forum of high school and university students was held in which participants discussed the preservation of fading traditional cultures.

“I think the youngsters are more interested in the issue. I am glad that people are finally noticing the significance of traditional culture,” Choi said.

The festival comes four years after a group of concerned administrative leaders of 29 cities of 21 countries with valuable intangible heritage met in Cairo in 2008 and agreed that a systematic and global approach was needed for the preservation and aggressive promotion of culture. The ICCN was later acknowledged as an advisory body of UNESCO.

Gangneung volunteered to host the first festival.

“Most of the ICCN members are heavily dependent on tourism for survival, which makes us more desperate to maintain our heritage. But at the same time we have one thing in common ― we have learnt the tradition by heart. That brought us stronger together,” Choi said.

At the opening gala dinner on Sunday, Trevor Maxwell, deputy mayor of Rotorua, New Zealand jumped on to the stage, joining a team of dancers from New Zealand who were performing a traditional Maori ritual.

“He didn’t really get it at first but soon caught up. At the end of the performance, he looked better than the dancers,” Choi said. “I asked him, ‘How did you do that? I barely know how to dance to a single folk song,’ and he answered that he had learnt it at school and the songs are very familiar to him.”

This inspired Choi to draw a blueprint for teaching cultural traditions. In Gangneung there are more than 40 Korean traditional musical organizations and afterschool classes at elementary schools on traditional customs.

“We have Danoje, a mix of Korea’s traditional religions, shamanism, Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, which was designated as a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005. We will start teaching Dano traditions to school children more thoroughly and then promote it nationwide and then, internationally,” Choi said.

“Naturally, I hope people will understand the beauty and energy behind Korea’s culture and attract them to explore more of it. I know Gangneung can do that!”

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)