Intangible Heritage Echoes in Myeongdong: Hyundai Foundation and K-tiful Join Forces

A unique collaboration between a corporate cultural foundation and a social enterprise has brought intangible cultural heritage to the forefront in Seoul's bustling Myeongdong district. The Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation and the public cultural platform K-tiful joined forces to present a series of events highlighting the value of traditional Korean arts.

The July installment of the foundation's 'ONSO STAGE' program, titled 'Hanryang, Walking Today,' featured a fusion of traditional Korean music and contemporary performance. Held at the foundation's Ondream Society space, the event drew around 100 citizens and aimed to provide a platform for artists while offering a space for public cultural enjoyment.

K-tiful, which operates a national heritage experience center and focuses on supporting traditional artisans through modern interpretations of Korean heritage, partnered with the foundation and H Kyung Arte TV. This collaboration leveraged the foundation's venue and K-tiful's expertise in curating traditional cultural content. The event provided performing artists with a stage and attendees with an opportunity to engage with traditional culture.

The program included performances by Kim Si-won, a master of the traditional 'Hanryangmu' dance, Kim Hee-soo on 'Samhyun Yukgak' (a traditional wind instrument ensemble), and a performance by Ajaeng player Bae Ho-young. Prior to the concert, participants engaged in a traditional fan-making workshop led by Kim Dae-seong, a practitioner of the 'Seonjajang' (traditional fan making) intangible cultural heritage. The venue also featured an exhibition of traditional fans and offered traditional tea and snacks, creating a holistic cultural experience.

Seo Jin-seong, chairman of K-tiful, emphasized the importance of hands-on experiences in connecting people with tradition. "Traditional culture can become more familiar through experiences of making and enjoying it," he said. "We will continue to collaborate with various institutions to expand opportunities for tradition bearers and consistently offer traditional cultural programs in daily life."

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Traditional culture can become more familiar through experiences of making and enjoying it. We will continue to collaborate with various institutions to expand opportunities for tradition bearers and consistently offer traditional cultural programs in daily life.