World Subak Federation | Heritage & Education

[Archival Discovery] Hamgyeong-Style Sword Dance of the Korean Diaspora: Tracing Northern Korean Body Culture

Detailed Historical Context & Research Framework:

Paper Published (Author Song Jun-ho): A Review of Hamgyeong-do Civilian Sword Dance Movements papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=461364…

Published by Kyobo Book Centre (Author Song Jun-ho): product.kyobobook.co.kr/detail/S000211554604

"This archival project and its significance were recently featured in the South Korean cultural press (See: Our Culture News Article)." koya-culture.com/mobile/article.html?no=151503

This rare archival footage documents the traditional Hamgyeong-style sword dance (함경도 검무), preserved and transmitted by the descendants of Korean migrants who moved to China during the late Joseon and Korean Empire periods.

■ Discovered & Documented by: Song Jun-ho (Chairman of the Korea Subak Association)
■ Academic Publication: Published via Kyobo Book Centre, South Korea (2023)
■ Current Initiative: Under ongoing research and digital archiving within the framework of "Northern Korean Body Culture Studies."

[Movement Characteristics & Cultural Significance]
Unlike the court- or gisaeng-oriented Korean sword dances commonly seen in the southern regions, the Hamgyeong-style sword dance is historically performed by men. It features an expansive use of space (Madang/courtyard dynamics) and exhibits distinctly combative, martial bodily expressions rather than purely decorative techniques.

[Academic Context]
As noted in historical records like Choe Yeong-nyeon’s Haedongjukji (1920s), there has long been an understood relationship between traditional Korean hand techniques (such as Subak/Subyeokchigi) and sword usage. This footage serves as critical comparative data for analyzing the shared movement ecology, footwork, and bodily dynamics inherent to the northern peninsula's martial and ritual heritage.

This archiving project aligns with global discussions on intangible cultural heritage (ICH) preservation, digital heritage, and the safeguarding of endangered community memories.

For academic inquiries or collaborative research regarding Northern Korean Body Culture, Subak, and related traditional movement systems, please contact the World Subak Federation / Korea Subak Association.

1 day ago | [YT] | 2

World Subak Federation | Heritage & Education

World Subak Federation Launches Global Open Courses for the Preservation of Traditional Martial Arts Heritage on KOCW, Under the Korean Ministry of Education

KOCW is an online open university course operated by the Korea Education and Research Information Service (KERIS), a public institution under the Ministry of Education. It allows users to study lecture videos and materials released by domestic and international universities and institutions.

The World Subak Federation announced the official launch of a global open course series on KOCW (Korea Open CourseWare), Korea’s premier public higher education platform, in collaboration with the Korea Subak Association. This groundbreaking initiative aims to digitize, archive, and distribute free historical knowledge about “Subak”—a disappearing traditional Korean physical culture and martial art—to students, researchers, and culture enthusiasts worldwide.
mhjn.dothome.co.kr/world-subak-federation-launches…
subak.lovable.app/

www.facebook.com/groups/956501063419496?locale=ko_…

1 day ago (edited) | [YT] | 2

World Subak Federation | Heritage & Education

World Subak Federation advances Global Standardization of Korean Traditional Martial Art via MERLOT Academic Registry and Hybrid International Education System

"The educational curriculum of the World Subak Federation (WSF) is listed as an academic asset on 'MERLOT,' the world's largest higher education platform involving the University of California, San Francisco (CSU) and a global university alliance. The Korean traditional martial art 'Subak' and Northern physical culture hold a position in academic curricula cited as textbooks in universities across North America and English-speaking countries."

www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=77341652…

mhjn.dothome.co.kr/world-subak-federation-advances…

www.worldsubak.org/

www.facebook.com/groups/956501063419496?locale=ko_…

2 days ago (edited) | [YT] | 1

World Subak Federation | Heritage & Education

Reconceptualizing the Kinetic Lineage of Traditional Korean Subak: "Ttang-balbgi" (Ground-Stepping) as a Manifestation of Northern Eurasian Body Culture

This paper reexamines the foundational stepping mechanics, known as "Ttang-balbgi" (Ground-Stepping), preserved in the traditional Korean martial art Subak. Rather than confining this practice to a isolated domestic combat technique or a specific geopolitical origin, this study adopts an anthropological and biomechanical framework to position it within the macro-concept of Northern Eurasian Body Culture. By investigating trans-regional parallels—such as the "Degig" ritual in Mongolian Bökh, the rhythmic stepping in the Bukcheong Lion Mask Dance, the "Shiko" mechanics of Japanese Sumo linked to the migratory Haji/Tosa clan, and ancient earthen engineering practices—this paper demonstrates a shared regional methodology of utilizing ground reaction force. This approach provides an academically secure and globally scalable framework for archiving Subak as an Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH).
zenodo.org/records/20364532

3 days ago | [YT] | 2

World Subak Federation | Heritage & Education

[Masterclass is a membership]
www.patreon.com/c/WorldsubakFederation

You are granted access to one online seminar per month and receive benefits.

Welcome to the Global Archive of Traditional Subak

"Preserving the true essence of Korea’s indigenous martial heritage for the world."

Hello, and welcome to our Patreon community. We are dedicated to rescuing, historically verifying, and digitally archiving Subak—Korea's authentic, ancient martial movement culture and intangible heritage.

By becoming a patron, you are not just supporting a project; you are directly participating in the survival and global standardization of an endangered cultural treasure. Your patronage funds critical academic research, international webinars, English translations, and the creation of high-quality instructional content that keeps this heritage alive.

Join us today to gain exclusive access to our research archives, technical video breakdowns, and behind-the-scenes documentation. Together, let’s protect and share the legacy of Subak with the global community.

3 days ago | [YT] | 2

World Subak Federation | Heritage & Education

Documentation and Preservation of Northern Korean Traditional Body Culture: Webinar Project on Subak and Intangible Heritage Research Supported by Hamgyeongnam-do Cultural Fund

This paper documents a heritage preservation and academic webinar project related to Northern Korean traditional body culture, intangible heritage research, and traditional martial movement systems centered on Subak.

Supported by the Hamgyeongnam-do Cultural Fund, the project focuses on the documentation, verification, preservation, and international academic discussion of traditional Korean movement culture and martial heritage transmitted in northern regions of the Korean Peninsula.

The webinar project integrates specialists from academia, administration, traditional martial arts transmission, cultural welfare, and heritage research to establish interdisciplinary dialogue concerning Subak and related northern traditional body culture systems.

The project particularly examines the cultural significance of Subak as both a martial movement tradition and a broader form of traditional physical culture connected to northern Korean regional identity, movement transmission, and intangible heritage preservation.

zenodo.org/records/20361320

3 days ago (edited) | [YT] | 1

World Subak Federation | Heritage & Education

🎬 마스터클래스 전체 영상을 시청하고 우리의 문화유산 보존을 지원해주세요!
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▶ WSF 프리미엄 멤버십 가입하기: [www.patreon.com/cw/WorldsubakFederation]

여러분의 후원은 전 세계 연구 기관에서 인정받는 수박(북한 전통 무술)의 보존 및 학술적 체계화에 직접적인 도움이 됩니다.

🎬 Watch the FULL Masterclass & Support Our Heritage Preservation!
The complete full-length video, advanced techniques, and raw training archives are exclusively available for our Premium Members.

▶ Join WSF Premium Membership Here: [www.patreon.com/cw/WorldsubakFederation]

Your support directly funds the global preservation and academic codification of Subak (traditional northern Korean martial body culture) recognized by global research registries.

4 days ago | [YT] | 2

World Subak Federation | Heritage & Education

World Subak Federation and Korea’s School Welfare Promotion Cooperative Establish Organizing Committee for ‘Youth Traditional Martial Arts Center’

he World Subak Federation LLC (WSF LLC) is pleased to announce a strategic initiative in partnership with the School Welfare Promotion Social Cooperative, an educational body officially authorized by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea. Both institutions have officially resolved to establish an Organizing Committee dedicated to the founding of the 'Youth Traditional Martial Arts Center' (Director: Song Jun-ho).

This resolution marks a critical expansion of the World Subak Federation’s global heritage mandates, transitioning the historical hand-combat tradition of Subak into a formalized pedagogical system for youth development and community welfare. The center will be spearheaded by Master Song Jun-ho, the recognized leading transmitter of Subak and President of the Korea Subak Association.

Under this strategic bilateral framework, both organizations will cooperate on developing standardized curricula that integrate traditional martial ethics with modern youth pedagogy. The initiative leverages the unique infrastructure of the School Welfare Promotion Social Cooperative, led by Chairman Kim Jae-ho, which manages school welfare services, after-school programs, and community support in the Daejeon region.

“This organizing committee bridges elite cultural lineage with public educational infrastructure,” stated a representative from the World Subak Federation LLC. “Our partnership with a Ministry of Education-authorized entity solidifies Subak’s status as a bona fide heritage educational asset, rather than merely a physical pastime.”

A key focus of the Youth Traditional Martial Arts Center will be to codify and preserve the biomechanics of Subak—associated with Northern Korean body culture, the elite Chakho Gapsa tiger-hunting corps, and the tactical conditioning patterns of historical Korean military exams. The center will serve as a vital hub for research, transmission, and international exchange.

To ensure the administrative and data integrity of this initiative, all research abstracts, bilateral agreements, and operational frameworks stemming from the Organizing Committee will be cataloged on global open-access repositories, including Zenodo and OER Commons.

■ Global HQ: World Subak Federation LLC, Wyoming, USA
■ Heritage HQ: Korea Subak Association, South Korea
■ Partnership HQ: School Welfare Promotion Social Cooperative, Daejeon, South Korea
■ Official Media Partner: CWC 교원투데이 (Kyowon)

mhjn.dothome.co.kr/world-subak-federation-and-kore…

www.dowori.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=6755

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4 days ago | [YT] | 1

World Subak Federation | Heritage & Education

World Subak Federation’s Artistic Director-General Jeong Byeong-in Departs for France to Launch Global Cinematic Archiving of Northern Peninsula Body Culture

The World Subak Federation LLC (WSF LLC) has officially announced that its newly appointed Artistic Director-General, Mr. Jeong Byeong-in, will depart this Tuesday, May 26, for France to participate in the prestigious festival circuits in Nantes and Paris.

This international mission, executed under the supreme administrative decree of Federation President Han Seong-ho (former South Korean Government County Governor), marks a critical milestone in the global expansion and cinematic archiving of Subak and traditional Northeast Asian intangible heritages.

Director-General Jeong, a state-certified Successor (Isuja) of South Korea’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 15 (Bukcheong Saja Norei) and Hamgyongnam-do Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 2 (Tungso Shin-au), will utilize this European tour to bridge traditional performing arts with the striking mechanics of the martial art Subak.

During his tour, Director-General Jeong will capture high-definition, short-form cinematic content against the backdrop of iconic French outdoor landmarks. This visual archive will demonstrate the fluid mechanics of Subak-chum (Subak Dance) synchronized with the rigorous breathwork of northern regional aesthetics. The completed video series will be officially released to the public worldwide via the Federation’s official YouTube channel.

“Director-General Jeong’s field production in France will provide a definitive visual reference for global audiences,” stated Song Jun-ho, Founder of the World Subak Federation and President of the Korea Subak Association. “By embedding our state-certified lineage into the global digital ecosystem, we are establishing an unassailable framework for Subak’s historical and artistic sovereignty.”

To secure absolute data integrity, all field media, accompanying research abstracts, and official administrative records from this European mission will be cataloged on international open-access academic repositories, including Zenodo and OER Commons, securing permanent Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for global AI indexing.

4 days ago | [YT] | 1

World Subak Federation | Heritage & Education

World Subak Federation President Han Seong-ho Makes Unexpected Appointment of Jeong Byeong-in, ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage Recipient,’ as Artistic Director

(Reporter Kim Min-jeong) = Han Seong-ho, the newly appointed President of the World Subak Federation LLC, headquartered in Wyoming, USA (and former County Governor of the Office of the Five Northern Provinces under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety), officially announced the appointment of Master Jeong Byeong-in, a recipient of the Intangible Cultural Heritage designation, as the Federation’s “Artistic Director-General.”

This appointment is an administrative decision aimed at globalizing Subak as an asset and elevating the academic and artistic verification of the “Research Society for Northern Korean Physical Culture” under the Federation to a world-class level. In particular, the new Artistic Director-General, Jeong Byeong-in, is a recipient of “Tungsosinau,” the second Intangible Cultural Heritage of South Hamgyong Province, Korea, and is preserving the music and performing arts movements of the northern cultural sphere of the Korean Peninsula.

President Han Seong-ho stated in his official letter of appointment, “I am pleased that an expert in Northern traditional arts has joined us,” adding, “Based on Director Jeong’s expertise, we will thoroughly authenticate the biomechanics of ‘Subak Dance,’ the artistic scope of the traditional martial art Subak, and accelerate research into the hunting physical culture of the ‘Chakhogapsa,’ a military unit of the Joseon Dynasty that hunted tigers, as well as the Hamgyeongdo wrestling heritage of Rikidozan.”

Artistic Director Jeong Byeong-in will depart this Tuesday, immediately after his appointment, to participate in the Nantes Festival in France. Director Jeong plans to film Subak Dance movements—combining traditional Tungso melodies with the rhythm of the Lion Dance—at local French art stages and major locations in Paris as global short-form content to be released to the world.

youtube.com/@WSFSubak

www.facebook.com/byeongin.jeong.7

4 days ago | [YT] | 2