Villagers' agency in the Intangible Cultural Heritage designation of a Korean village ritual

초록

This paper examines how the villagers of Pamsom village in Seoul acted as agents in configuring their own cultural identity which explores issues concerning Korea's Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) designation system. It delves in detail how villagers practice their ritual of Pamsom Pugundang kut ? amidst the complex process of continuity and change as a way of sustaining and promoting collective village identity. By examining the implications of this cultural practices in contemporary society, this paper ultimately raises the question of who constitutes the true legatee of traditional culture of Pamsom village. The cultural practice of the Pamsom Pugundang kut carried out by the villagers of Pamsom can be interpreted not merely as a critique of the dynamics of political and cultural heritage, but the reconstruction of villager's identity through the creation and continuation of their long village history. This study provides a useful case in examining a village community which describes in detail how the subject of this study constructs their cultural identity and faces the complex issues concerning Korea's ICH designation system.

키워드