A scene from the traditional house and head-family home program at Giheon Historic House in Bonghwa-gun. [Bonghwa-gun]
A scene from the traditional house and head-family home program at Giheon Historic House in Bonghwa-gun. [Bonghwa-gun]

Bonghwa-gun in North Gyeongsang Province announced Thursday that two of its projects have been selected for the Cultural Heritage Administration's 2027 "Our Hometown National Heritage Utilization" grant program.

The two selected projects are a living heritage program titled "Baby Deer's Star Stories" and a traditional house and head-family home program titled "Giheon Historic House of Beopjeon Village, Embraced by the Taeguk."

The "Baby Deer's Star Stories" living heritage program centers on the life of Bae Sang-yeol, a scholar known by the pen name Goedam who was born in Seokpyeong-ri — also called Yurok Village — in Bonghwa-gun, and on the astronomical heritage he left behind.

Programming includes lessons on Joseon-era astronomical instruments such as the armillary sphere and sundial, traditional Korean constellations, and hands-on stargazing through telescopes.

"Baby Deer's Star Stories" was selected four consecutive years from 2022 through 2025, making it one of Bonghwa-gun's flagship national heritage programs.

The Giheon Historic House program reimagines the legends and historical figures associated with the old house and Beopjeon Village through outdoor park installations and experiential activities.

Key offerings include an overnight program called "Did You Dream of a Dragon Last Night?" — a two-day, one-night stay at the historic house featuring traditional Korean cultural experiences — and a same-day program called "The Lady's Secret Recipe: Heirloom Cuisine," which lets participants explore traditional food culture and ceremonial customs.

In 2026, the program's inaugural year, a courtyard theater performance will be staged twice over the first Saturday and Sunday of November at the Giheon Historic House grounds.

Bonghwa-gun Mayor Choi Ki-young said the county would continue developing its distinctive cultural heritage into diverse content to build it into a cultural tourism asset unique to Bonghwa-gun and to help revitalize the local economy.


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com