Haeundae

News

AI-translated Press Releases

Busan Metropolitan City Publishes Where the Sound of Cowbells Follows the Waves – Stories of the People of Somak Village in Uam-dong

Aug 12, 2025 46  Views
◈ Publication of an oral history book on modern and contemporary Busan, capturing the vivid voices of residents of Somak Village in Uam-dong, a heritage site on the Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage as part of the Heritage of the Provisional Capital of Busan.

◈ Contents include: ▲ the history and changes of Somak Village ▲ current photographs of Uam-dong Somak Village ▲ stories from in-depth interviews with residents conducted in 2016.

◈ The book is available for viewing at public libraries nationwide, including in Busan, and on the City’s website.
내용

Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced the publication of the 16th volume of its Oral History of Modern and Contemporary Busan series, titled Where the Sound of Cowbells Follows the Waves – Stories of the People of Somak Village in Uam-dong, which offers a vivid portrayal of Busan’s modern and contemporary history.


Somak Village in Uam-dong, located in Nam-gu, Busan, has a unique history. During the Japanese colonial period, it served as a quarantine station for exporting Korean cattle. During the Korean War, it functioned as a temporary shelter for war refugees, and in the era of industrialization, it became a residential area for workers. Recognized for its value as a modern cultural heritage site, it was included in 2023 on the Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage as part of the Heritage of the Provisional Capital of Busan.


The newly published Where the Sound of Cowbells Follows the Waves – Stories of the People of Somak Village in Uam-dong chronicles the formation and transformation of the village—from its origins as a site for a cattle quarantine station during the Japanese colonial period, to its use as temporary housing for refugees during the Korean War, to its development into a large residential community during industrialization—woven together with the vivid voices of its residents.


The book includes ▲ the history and changes in Uam-dong Somak Village ▲ a photographic record of the village as it stands in 2025 ▲ accounts from in-depth oral interviews with residents conducted in 2016.


In particular, the City re-edited the results of the 2016 in-depth interviews with Somak Village residents to make them easier to read, clearly organizing the village’s history and carefully preserving the life stories of the people who have lived alongside it.


Including this latest volume, the Oral History of Modern and Contemporary Busan series can be viewed or downloaded from public libraries nationwide, including those in Busan, the City’s website (busan.go.kr, Busan Introduction > Busan History > Busan Regional History Library), and the website of the Busan Metropolitan City History Compilation Committee (bssisa.com).


Meanwhile, the City’s History Compilation Office has been steadily publishing the Oral History of Modern and Contemporary Busan series to share and preserve Busan’s history with its citizens. The series began in 2018 with Stories of the People of Gamjeon-dong and Hakjang-dong, followed by Stories of the People of Dakbatgol Village and Stories of the People of Maechukji Village in 2019; Stories of the People of Oeyangpo and Daehaeng Village and Stories of the People of Imgi Village in 2020; Stories of the People of Namsan-dong VillageStories of the People of Mujigae Village, and Stories of the People of Gamcheon Culture Village in 2021; Stories of the People of Daecheon VillageStories of the People of Hakri Village, and Stories of the People of Anchang Village in 2022; Stories of the People of Mulmangol in 2023; and Stories of the People of Dolsan Mural Village in 2024.


Cho Yu-jang, Director General of the Culture Bureau, stated, “The publication of this book is part of our efforts to record the history of Busan’s disappearing rural villages, to lay the foundation for research into the city’s modern and contemporary history, and to preserve Busan’s regional history. We will continue to approach citizens more closely through the compilation of Busan’s local history.”

This content has been translated by AI. Please refer to the attached original Korean version for accuracy if needed.