KOREA FOUNDATION

INTERVIEW

Cultural Heritage in ASEAN Countries

We can study the life and culture of our ancestors by examining our cultural heritage, which is one reason that it is worth preserving. We met and talked to Director Jeon Beom-hwan of the International Cooperation Group at the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation, who has participated in the restoration of cultural properties in ASEAN countries.

Nice to meet you. Please introduce yourself to the readers of the ASEAN Culture House Monthly.

Hello. I am Director Jeon Beom-hwan of the International Cooperation Group at the Korea Cultural Heritage Foundation. Currently, I am responsible for the cultural heritage overseas development assistance(ODA) projects under taken by the Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation.

I heard that you worked hard to restore and preserve the cultural heritage of Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar. How did Korea first become involved in such projects?

After the Korean War, South Korea received assistance from many countries, and thanks to them, we were able to recover quickly. When our country entered the ranks of the developed nations, we began to return the favor by sharing our world-class cultural heritage management and conservation technologies. Just as we feel it is important to preserve the heritage of Korea, we also believe the cultural heritage of every country is a valuable asset of humanity.

Out of all the restoration projects you’ve been involved in, what was the most memorable cultural heritage site for you? And please tell us about how you conducted work on the restoration.

The most memorable cultural heritage site is Bagan, located in Myanmar. Bagan is now one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites thanks to its beautiful scenery, and its several thousand Buddhist temples, stupas, monasteries, as well as archaeological remains, frescos, and sculptures. Inside the temples, there are beautiful murals painted in the 13th century. We conducted archaeological investigations and underground surveys, and assessed building safety, in order to produce manuals related to the preservation of the murals. The initial part of the project thus ended in 2020, and the second part was to be started in 2021, but unfortunately, the coup halted our progress. It’s regrettable, and if we could go, it’s the first place we want to visit.

What does their cultural heritage tell us about Cambodia and Myanmar?

In Myanmar, Buddhism has a strong influence. Many historic sites inform us about their faith and belief in Buddhism during the Bagan dynasty, and how it continues to be practiced in the present day. In the corridor on the first floor of the Bayon temple in Cambodia, you can find many reliefs that portray how people lived back in the day, such as people catching lice, a mother giving birth, and cockfighting. Witnessing their deep faith and way of living, it seems as though there’s nothing much different from today.

Lastly, do you have any special message for the readers of ASEAN Culture House Monthly?

Dear readers! Currently, the Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation is working on cultural heritage ODA projects, such as the conservation and restoration of the Hong Nang Sida temple in Lao PDR, as well as the Preah Pithu temple and the Terrace of the Elephants in Angkor, Cambodia. Although you may not be aware that Korea is taking part in such activities, we hope you could support our upcoming restoration projects! I hope the year 2023 is full of happiness and joy!