▲ Snowy landscape of Oeam-ri Maeul

Efforts to make cultural heritage in the region of Chungcheongnam-do in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage of Humanity, such as “Baekje Historic Site Zone󰡓 in the area of Gongju, Buyeo, Iksan, “Oeam Folk Village” in Asan, “Donam Private School” in Nonsan City, etc., are being stepped up.
Chungcheongnam-do plans to organize a “Preparation Committee for Carrying out the Registration of Chungcheongnam-do Cultural Heritage in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage of Humanity” with the participation of 11 experts following the signing of the MOU between the Cultural Heritage Administration and Gongju City, Buyeo-gun, Iksan City of Jeollabuk-do to have the Baekje Historic Site Zone registered in the Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
With regard to the Baekje Historic Site Zone registered in January of last year in the provisional list of Cultural Heritages of Humanity, the Cultural Heritage Administration, Chungcheongnam-do, and Jeollabuk-do target the registration of more than 20 historic sites in over 10 zones including the Ancient Site of Jeongrimsa Temple of Buyeo, Tomb of King Muryeong of Gongju, Ancient Site of Mireuksa Temple, etc. until 2015.
Moreover, plans have been made to organize in the early part of 2012 a “Consultative Body and Advisory Committee on the Preservation of Oeam Folk Village” with the participation of representatives of the Oeam Folk Village, cultural heritage experts, government officials, etc., and to perform extensive maintenance of the area surrounding the Village, following the hosting of the “Workshop for the People Concerned from Folk Villages Nationwide󰡓 last October targeting the registration of Oeam Folk Village in Asan (Important Folklore Material No. 236) in the Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Located at the foot of Mt. Seolwha in Songak-myeon, Asan City, Oeam Folk Village spans 208,000㎡. It is where Mr. Kang and Mok, etc., settled 500 years ago to build a village.
Today, houses of the gentry such as Yeongam house, Champan house, Songwha house, Oeamjongga house, Shinchang house, Gamchal house, Chosil house, Changbong house, and large and small ancient houses including thatched houses of over 50 households remain, retaining their original forms.

▲ Yangseongdang in Donam Private School

In addition, Chungcheongnam-do, together with local governments nationwide and having jurisdiction over the ancient private schools, is going through the administrative procedures to have Donam Private School in Nonsan City (National Historic Site No. 383) registered in the Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Having applied for the registration of Donam Private School in the provisional list of Cultural Heritage of Humanity last September, Chungcheongnam-do plans to submit the application for registration to UNESCO in 2014 following work on the preparation of application for its registration in the Cultural Heritage of Humanity and related work in 2012. Located in Im-ri Yeonsan-myeon, Nonsan City, Donam Private School is the stronghold of Kiho School, known as one of the twin axes of Confucianism together with Yeongnam School during the Joseon Dynasty period. It was built in 1634 (12th year of the reign of King Injo) in honor of the scholarship and virtues of scholar Kim Jang Seng (pen name: Sangye, 1548~1631) who compiled the Confucian teachings on etiquette. With regard to “Weaving Hansan ramie,” which was promoted for registration as Intangible Heritage of Humanity, its supplementation was recommended by the Auxiliary Screen Organization of UNESCO last October. Thus, supplementary materials were submitted after a meeting to establish countermeasures between the Cultural Heritage Administration, Chungcheongnam-do, and Seocheon-gun. As a result, the 6th Committee on Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Bali, Indonesia from November 22 to 29 decided that “Weaving Hansan ramie” should be registered in the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
“We will make every effort to have our cultural heritage registered in the Cultural Heritage of Humanity through close cooperation with related institutions such as the Cultural Heritage Administration in combination with systematic and thorough preparation in view of the enthusiastic support of Chungcheongnam-do residents for the registration of our cultural heritage. Last September, Chungcheongnam-do Assembly put forward and passed a motion regarding the “Ordinance on the Registration of Chungcheongnam-do’s cultural heritage in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage of Humanity and its Preservation and Management,” a source in Chungcheongnam-do said.