Honoring 28 years of preserving traditional ironworking as a designated “Yajang” craft holder.
Boeun-gun announced on the 14th that Yoo Dong-yeol, who operates the Boeun Blacksmith Workshop, has been officially recognized as the holder of Chungcheongbuk-do Designated Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 13, “Yajang,” honoring more than 28 years of dedication to preserving traditional ironworking skills.
“Yajang” refers to a traditional blacksmith who heats iron with a bellows and forges agricultural tools and everyday implements. Yoo began working in a blacksmith shop in 1998 and has steadily built expertise in traditional Yajang craftsmanship over nearly three decades.
In 2003, Yoo entered formal apprenticeship training under the late master Seol Yong-sul and received systematic instruction in traditional techniques. In 2008, Yoo was certified as a transmission instructor and has since focused on training the next generation of practitioners. Yoo also refined skills by visiting blacksmith workshops nationwide, contributing to the long-term preservation of traditional craftsmanship.
Yoo’s work goes beyond producing traditional farming tools such as Nat (a Korean sickle) and Homi (a traditional Korean hand hoe). It has expanded into cultural products that incorporate modern sensibilities, including decorative nails for Hanok (traditional Korean houses), apple-harvesting hammers, and miniature herbal digging picks, contributing to the wider public appreciation of traditional blacksmith culture. Through these efforts, the Boeun Blacksmith Workshop has grown into a nationally recognized cultural experience space. Yoo also serves as a visiting professor at the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage, supporting skills transmission through education.
Chungcheongbuk-do recognized Yoo for systematically preserving Yajang techniques and expanding the foundation for cultural transmission through public engagement. As a designated holder, Yoo will receive monthly support funding and annual assistance for public demonstration events to continue preservation activities.
Source: Boeun-gun Office
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