The Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea (CHA) is to hold 30 cultural events to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

First opened on Oct. 2, 1961, the administration has been serving as an agency of the Korean government, preserving and promoting the country’s national cultural treasures.

CHA administrator Choe Kwang-shik said that while the organization has been doing well in preserving Korea’s cultural heritage it should focus more on finding ways to make “practical use” of them.

“We are trying to take a future-friendly approach when working with our hertiage for the next 50 years to come,” Choe said at a press meeting held at National Palace Museum of Korea in Seoul, Monday.

“For example, our heritage fashion show, which will be held in October, will exhibit costumes that are similar to the ones in Goryeo’s Buddhist paintings. But the show will also look into the ways to modernize those pieces and transform them into our everyday wear. That would be a practical use of our tradition and cultural legacy.”

The administration on Monday also signed an MOU with Smart Education Foundation, a government-affiliated organization, to distribute its digitized educational materials to over 11,000 elementary and middle schools across the country. The administration aims to broadcast its original content on Korea’s national treasures through Smart Education Foundation’s IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) channel.

The 30 events lined up include a special exhibition featuring Korea’s Changdeok Palace, a photo exhibition of Dokdo, a heritage fashion show, and UNESCO events for young students to explore Korea’s cultural heritage.

The administration also plans to publish a book that chronicles CHA’s 50-year history, and a series of academic seminars and forums to discuss ways of preserving Korea’s national treasures in the future.

By Claire Lee (dyc@herladm.com)