Koreans lack understanding of hanok’s cultural value

Peter Bartholomew

An American, who has lived in Korea and been involved in preserving traditional Korean houses, Hanok, for more than 40 years, claimed there is little understanding and awareness of the cultural value of the buildings among Korean people.

Peter Bartholomew, managing director of iRC, a a Korea-focused business development consultancy, received the King Sejong Prize from the government last week in recognition of his contributions to preserving Hanok.

“I was very surprised. I didn’t expect to receive any award. It was just my hobby and interest outside of business,” he said during an interview with The Korea Times.

He said he has been fighting to save Hanok because he was very disappointed over the past 40 years when he saw houses being destroyed throughout Korea.

“The number of Hanok has decreased a lot in Seoul. And now, 70 percent of Hanok are in redevelopment areas and are scheduled for destruction. It is very bad policy of the government. It must change,” he said.

He claimed, in Korea, old buildings are considered to be uncomfortable and bad due to a lack of the value of the building, so people think it should be demolished.

“I have never heard of such concepts in other countries. It is not like that in western culture. Europe is the best example of preserving old houses. Fantastic, beautiful and old houses are everywhere,” he said. “In our culture, we consider architecture to be equally important to the Mona Lisa painting or a famous statue.”

“But in Korea, architecture is not part of that. So I am trying to promote that Hanok is equally important with Joseon-period painter Kim Hong-do’s paintings. It is a very important precious part of the Korean culture and history.”

He told a story about his clients visiting Korea from Europe and North America.

“They said Seoul is a boring place because there is nothing to see here except some palaces. It is true. There are just concrete, steel and glass buildings. There is nothing unique of Korea to see as the government destroyed Hanok villages and Pimagoal [an alley used by the lower class in Joseon-period].”

He stressed people can remodel without destroying the cultural value.

“You just need very simply a heating system, water, electricity, bathroom, kitchen and maybe a laundry. That’s it. Then you can make Hanok very comfortable and it costs less money than destroying and building a new one.”

Bartholomew, also director of Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch, has lived in Dongsomun-dong Hanok village since 1974. Three years ago, he won a suit against the local government in court and successfully prevented his village from being redeveloped.

He is also a member of the National Trust of Korea as well as a member of a consultative body for the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to promote the Korean wave. “My specific area is, as you can imagine, traditional culture, such as how can we bring more traditional culture information and interesting things into Hallyu.” <The Korea Times/Jun Ji-hye>