Gangwon Province announced that it has registered two sites as its first Gangwon Registered Cultural Heritage: “Seoraksan Old Heeungak Shelter” and “Jumunjin Catholic Church in Gangneung.”
This is the first registration of provincial registered cultural heritage since the implementation of the system on December 25, 2019, and it is significant as it sets a new milestone in the preservation of modern cultural heritage in the Gangwon area.
Registered cultural heritage refers to cultural heritage items that are not designated as official cultural assets but are over 50 years old and require measures for preservation and utilization as modern cultural heritage. Unlike designated cultural heritage, there are no regulations on surrounding development.
The Heeungak Shelter, built in 1969, is located at an altitude of 1,065 meters on a mountain ridge where the main hiking trails of Seoraksan converge. Although Seoraksan is a popular mountain among domestic and international visitors, its rapid weather changes make the Heeungak Shelter an important resting place.
Notably, this shelter is considered the last civilian-built shelter maintaining its original form in Seoraksan and is recognized as a heritage site that greatly influenced subsequent state-led shelter constructions. Its simple structure reflects the construction technology and regional conditions of the time and holds historical significance in establishing the culture of visiting Seoraksan National Park.
Jumunjin Catholic Church was the third parish established in the Yeongdong region. Since its founding in 1923, it has played a significant role as a base for spreading Catholicism while coexisting with the local community.
Completed in 1955, the church has undergone multiple repairs but still retains its architectural characteristics from that time. It is recognized as a representative religious facility that reflects the construction technology of the 1950s and serves as a historical resource for Catholicism in Gangwon.
Along with the registration of the provincial cultural heritage, “Donghae Samhwasaji Hwa-jangom” is also designated as an intangible cultural heritage. Used in Buddhist rituals, including Samhwa Temple’s Suwool-je (a national intangible cultural heritage), this traditional craft has been systematically passed down within the local community and is highly valued.
As a result, the province now holds a total of 737 national heritage items (212 state-designated, 469 province-designated, and 56 registered).
Kim Kwang-chul, the director of the provincial Cultural and Sports Bureau, stated, “The first registration of provincial cultural heritage marks a meaningful starting point for the systematic preservation and utilization of modern cultural heritage.” He added, “We will actively work to continually discover national heritage that embodies the unique historical and cultural nature of the Gangwon area and convey its value to future generations.”