{"id":27332,"date":"2026-05-22T22:08:32","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T13:08:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mhjn.dothome.co.kr\/?p=27332"},"modified":"2026-05-22T22:08:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T13:08:32","slug":"a-study-on-the-utilization-of-subak-%e6%89%8b%e6%90%8f-by-the-joseon-chako-gapsa-and-its-connection-to-northern-hunting-body-culture-focusing-on-international-branding-strategies-for-traditional-ma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mhjn.dothome.co.kr\/en\/a-study-on-the-utilization-of-subak-%e6%89%8b%e6%90%8f-by-the-joseon-chako-gapsa-and-its-connection-to-northern-hunting-body-culture-focusing-on-international-branding-strategies-for-traditional-ma\/","title":{"rendered":"A Study on the Utilization of Subak (\u624b\u640f) by the Joseon Chako-Gapsa and Its Connection to Northern Hunting Body Culture: Focusing on International Branding Strategies for Traditional Martial Arts"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Abstract<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This study investigates the historical and anthropological convergence between the institutional use of Subak<\/em> (traditional Korean martial arts) in the military examinations for Chako-Gapsa<\/em> (elite tiger-hunting soldiers of the Joseon Dynasty) and the oral testimonies of Kim Hak-cheon, the last practitioner of the Subak-chum<\/em> (Subak Dance), which reflects the physical grappling traditions of northern hunters around Mount Baekdu. Moving away from conventional perspectives that restrict Subak<\/em> to a primitive folk game or a mere precursor to modern Taekwondo or Taekkyon, this paper elucidates its identity as a tactical military system and a mechanism for survival in rugged mountain terrains. Furthermore, this study proposes a globalization strategy to brand Subak<\/em> as a unique “Northeast Asian Northern Body Culture,” establishing a competitive edge in the global martial arts heritage sector and facilitating its integration into international registries such as UNESCO and global open-access repositories (OER).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keywords:<\/strong> Subak, Subak-chum, Chako-Gapsa, Northern Body Culture, Martial Arts Globalization, Kim Hak-cheon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I. Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the process of preserving and globalizing traditional martial arts, the establishment of a distinct historical identity and a compelling visual narrative is paramount. However, Subak<\/em>, a foundational grappling heritage of Korea, has long been overshadowed by Taekwondo (which successfully transitioned into a global Olympic sport) and Taekkyon (celebrated for its fluid, rhythmic aesthetic). Consequently, Subak<\/em> has struggled to project its unique biomechanical value and cultural narrative onto the global stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To break through this impasse, this study cross-references the official state records of the early Joseon Dynasty regarding the recruitment of Chako-Gapsa<\/em> with the ethnographic evidence provided by Kim Hak-cheon, who actively hunted in the wilderness of Mount Baekdu prior to the enforcement of the state hunting ban. By synthesizing historical texts with oral traditions, this paper demonstrates that Subak<\/em> was not an unstructured street brawl but an “elite combat system designed to confront apex predators”<\/strong> and a “survival conditioning method forged in extreme frontier environments.”<\/strong> Based on these findings, actionable strategies for the international branding of Subak<\/em> are discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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II. Main Body<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

1. Institutional Links Between Chako-Gapsa and Subak in the Joseon Annals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

During the early Joseon Dynasty, the Chako-Gapsa<\/em> were specialized, elite forces tasked with tracking and capturing wild tigers. According to the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty<\/em> (Joseon Wangjo Sillok<\/em>) and various military ordinances, Subak<\/em> (\u624b\u640f) served as a core mandatory criterion during the Chwije<\/em> (military talent selection examinations).<\/p>\n\n\n\n