The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization in 2014 designated Jeju’s basalt stone walls Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems. And this year, these (밭담) “batdam” will be used as part of a village urbanization project. Suejin Choi reports.
The stone walls of Jeju’s batdam (밭담) have withstood the harshest of winds... and they have come to symbolize the Jeju spirit of harmonizing with each other in a communal society.

INTERVIEW
Kim Tae-il / Professor, Jeju National University
Some stones resist Jeju’s strong winds, but the real beauty of the batdam lies in the spaces in between the stones that let the air flow right through. It’s a good example of the wisdom and philosophy of the people of Jeju.
인터뷰 : 김태일/제주대학교 교수>
"제주도의 거센 바람을 일부의 돌 무게로 막아주지만
바름을 통해 통과시켜 줌으로써 돌에 가해지는 압력을 줄여준다는
아주 슬기로운 물리학적 지혜를 몸으로 익힌 제주사람들의
문화적 상징을 보여주는 것이 아닌가..."

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International recognition in 2014

In 2014, the batdam became globally recognized as the walls were designated Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. But they continued to remain very much deserted until it was recently announced that batdam had been selected as the theme around which the government’s sixth village urbanization project would be run.

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‘Batdam’ selected for 6th state-run village urbanization project

The announcement was made late last year, opening the way for various state-run projects using batdam to be conducted over the next three years.

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Project to begin in second half of 2016

The 4-billion-won project will begin in the second half of this year.

Jeju City and Seogwipo will jointly operate various events incorporating the stone walls, including festivals and hands-on programs.

INTERVIEW
Ko Ju-hwan / Representative, Provincial government
We plan to create a database of ‘batdam’ history and make sure that they can be preserved and systematically managed. We also plan to operate health-related programs incorporating the walls.
<인터뷰 : 고주환/제주특별자치도 지역균형발전담당>
"밭담의 역사적인 자료를 체계화 시켜서
보전관리하는 자료로 활용하는 내용과
밭담을 활용한 건강, 치유 프로그램을 운영할 계획입니다."

[REPORTER]
Suejin Choi

The state-run projects are expected to help bring Jeju’s traditional black stone walls back to life while staying true to its philosophy of coexisting in harmony with all that surround it.

Suejin Choi KCTV