A Study On Gudeul(Ondol) Characteristics And Its Intangible Cultural Value

The Gudeul/Ondol is the traditional floor heating system found in and around the Korean peninsula. It is one of the distinguishing features of the Hanok, differentiating it from other oriental architecture. It has influenced the development of the Korean architecture as well as Korean culture by controlling the indoor lifestyle with its heating method. The Gudeul heats by contact with the thermal mass, which is the floor.There are two terms used to refer to the Korean floor heating system: Gudeul and Ondol. The term Ondol came from the Korean pronunciation of the Chinese characters used in literature. Gudeul on the other hand is pure Korean term. Though these two terms are used interchangeably, in recent years Ondol has been used to refer to traditional as well as the modern system. The use of the term Gudeul, however, has been limited to the traditional system.The Gudeul started out being Hahyangsik, in which the heat source was placed on top of the thermal mass. With developments, it changed into the Sanghyangsik where the heat source was placed under the thermal mass. Once the Gudeul became Sanghyangsik and the structure was fully developed, the structure adapted to its heat source and changed in various ways. It went from Gorae Gudeul where wood was used as fuel, to Coal Briquette Gudeul where the source of fuel was coal, and finally into the Electric or Hotwater Ondol where heat was no longer supplied by the fire directly, also known as the Indirect system.Since the Gudeul mainly heats through contact instead of raising the indoor temperature, heat needed to be stored and maintained in the thermal mass of the floor. Thererfore, the structure of the Gudeul was developed to distribute and store heat in the floor. In addition, for these purposes the materials used in the Gudeul had high thermal capacity and resistance.By presenting a unique heating method, the Gudeul influenced the Korean culture by restricting indoor activities. Since the Gudeul heated by contact and the heat was stored in the floor, the Korean people maintained the Zwasik lifestyle where all aspects of daily indoor life took place near or on the floor. In doing so the Gudeul influenced the design of the Korean home, attire, manner, and various art forms. It has also influenced the Korean food since the fire used for heating was also used for cooking. Furthermore, Gudeul rooms were used for storing food ingredients. The Gudeul also influenced the Korean language because of its integral part in the daily life.The Gudeul has not remained stagnant in the modern world. It adapted to modern living by developing into the Electric or Hotwater Ondol mentioned earlier. The traditional system has also adapted itself to modern living and the influence of western culture by making an appearance in the form of a fireplace combination and boiler system combination. It has also appears in a form of Open Air Gudeul for campers which is a recently acquired leisure activityIn the above ways the Gudeul is ever present in Korean culture. Its structural developments represent the understanding of nature and traditional craftsmanship of the Korean people. These elements are two categories within the definition of intangible cultural heritage defined in the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural heritage. Gudeul has developed throughout history adapting to changes all the while maintaining its distinguishing qualities and retaining its intangible cultural value.