Fabulous Hanji (Korean Traditional Paper)

Hanji, the Korean traditional paper, is an integral part of Korean traditional culture. For more than 1,600 years, it has played a central role in the lives of Koreans, who learned to use it in a dizzying number of ways. From books to walls, to windows and floors of houses to coffins, hanji was practically an everyday necessity for Koreans, from the day they were born to the day they died. Let’s take a closer look at this fantastic paper, which captures so well the essence and soul of Korean people. What Exactly is Hanji?  Hanji is the name of the Korean traditional paper. It is made from the bark of mulberry trees called chomok. There are three slightly different kinds of mulberry trees in Korea, depending on the climatic conditions in which they grow. Each kind of mulberry tree produces a specific type of hanji with a specific use. Mayopjong for example, which is mainly found in the center of the country, has a tough but thin bark with relatively few fibers. It is chiefly used as wall and floor paper. On the other hand, Yojojong has a thick bark with smooth and long fibers, which makes it ideal for calligraphy paper.  The Origins of Hanji  Ts’ai Lun, a Chinese eunuch, is said to have invented this paper in 105 A.D.  In Korea, the origins of hanji are somewhat mysterious because it is not clearly documented. However, ancient Japanese chronicles mention a certain monk named Tamjing bringing with him to Japan in 605 paper, ink, an ink stone and a grinding stone. From Korea, the art of making paper was quickly introduced in Japan.  [ Characteristics of Hanji ]  Hanji has many qualities which make it an exceptional product:  It is durable, it can indeed last for well over a thousand years, it is smooth to the touch, it ventilates well, it isolates well and finally it is sheen and translucent.  Compared to the fibers of the Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino mulberry trees, the fibers of the Korean mulberry tree are longer, stronger, and is quite sheen, which gives a higher quality to the paper. The Many Uses of Hanji  Hanji Dolls With its fine texture and smooth surface, hanji has been popular among scholars and painters for centuries. Hanji was also used for official government records due to its remarkable durability. The earliest example of mobile type printing in the world, the Pulcho Chickchi Shimch’e Yojol, printed in 1377 can be admired at the French National Library in Paris.  Few countries have used paper in such a diverse way as Koreans. Hanji is or was used in making handicrafts, ropes, shrouds, and everywhere in the house as coverings on doors, windows, and floors. Hanji really was an integral part of Koreans’ lifestyle. Hanji People (한지와 사람들)  Lecturer, Kim In-Suk There are hundreds and hundreds of hanji articles for sale in Seoul. While any one of them would surely make a great souvenir or present, what about making your own hanji object? This is what the shop "Hanji People (한지와 사람들)" offers located in the Insadong traditional area, a tempting proposition, isn’t it?  This charming little boutique, located on the second floor of the Dong-il (동일) building on Insa-dong’s main street, offers hanji handicraft-making courses for everyone from beginners to experts. So how does it work? It’s simple! Choose the object you wish to make from the boutique’s catalogue according to your taste, the time you wish to spend on it, and your budget and voilà! All that’s left to do is to roll up your sleeves and begin but don’t fret, you’ll be assisted by an experienced hanji experts, the joyful Kim In-Suk or one of the regular workers at the workshop. The boutique is divided into two parts: one is the actual shop where you’ll find the superb works of the talented Kim In-Suk and the other is the workshop area.  If you have a few hours to spare I warmly recommend you go try your hand at making your own hanji piece. Seeing your own object slowly take life to finally take it home is a particularly nice feeling indeed. Moreover, the ambience is very relaxed and even though Mrs. Kim doesn’t speak english, there will always be someone to help you and advise you.  Hanji people proposes an original and refreshing experience that we highly recommend during your next visit to Insa-dong ! → Link to the Insa-dong Art Street → Link to the Traditional Culture Hands-on Programs  [ Further Detailed Information ]  Getting there : The shop is located on the main street of Insadong, the traditional district, close to the front of the Starbucks Coffee Shop (스타벅스 커피), on the second floor of the Dong-il (동일) building. Keep an eye open for the sign that says "한지와 사람들 (Hanji People)".  Insadong is accessible by using subway line No.3 (orange), Anguk station.  Business Hours : 10:00 – 18:00 from Monday to Friday                   10:00-16:00 Saturdays  Address : 2F Dongil B/D, #170 Insa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul  Tel : +82-2-725-9979  Fax : +82-2732-9979  Website : www.hanjipeople.co.kr (Korean) [ Photo Gallery ] Source:Korea tourism Organisation

Korean language institute opens in UAE

Korea’s Chungnam National University recently opened a branch of the King Sejong Institute in the United Arab Emirates. The institute will be housed at Zayed University's Abu Dhabi campus.

Zayed University's Vice President, Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim, Korean Ambassador to the UAE, Kwon Tae Kyun, and Lee Sang-cheol of Chungnam National University's Language Education Center attended the opening ceremony on October 18 at the university.

Named after King Sejong the Great (1397-1450), who created the Korean Hangeul alphabet, the King Sejong Institute is a Korean language school operated and commissioned by Korean education organizations and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the International Korean Language Foundation.

This is the first such institute to open in the Middle East, and it is hoped that the King Sejong Institute will play a key role in promoting Korean culture by teaching the Korean language.

(From left to right) Lee Sang-cheol of Chungnam National University's Language Education Center, Associate Professor of Zayed University Christopher Brown and Zayed University's Vice President Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim attend the opening ceremony of the King Sejong Institute on October 18 at the university in Abu Dhabi

More than 100 students, including officials who will be dispatched to Korea, enrolled the institute, and instruction will be provided by a teacher from Chungnam National University. 

The Vice President of Zayed University, Dr. Al Jassim, said the institute will help strengthen Korea-UAE ties and expressed his thanks for the Korean government’s support.

Chungnam National University hopes the institute will serve as a bridge between the two countries by introducing the Korean language and culture to the Middle East.

Chungnam National University Language Education Center also plans to open a King Sejong Institute in Turkey.

A foreigner's battle to preserve South Korea's hanokhouses

British-born David Kilburn is battling the systematic destruction of the traditional dwellings, which are disappearing despite the creation of a preservation zon 

David Kilburn remembers the first time he wandered Kahoi Dong, a hilly enclave in the heart of the Seoul where clusters of traditional buildings known as hanokhouses dot winding, It was 22 years ago, but the British-born Kilburn can't forget the serenity he felt when he set foot inside one of the historic one-story homes. It was like stepping back in time, to a quainter Seoul of a century ago. He marveled at the aged pine ceiling beams, the graceful curve of the black-tiled roof, the high walls that encircled the courtyard like a cocoon, the wooden doorway that seemed designed to protect inhabitants from the sterile high-rise apartments that loomed in the near distance.

• • Reporting from Seoul — He's known as the feisty foreigner, the outsider waging a one-man fight for "the district where beauty gathers."

"It was a place of magical beauty," Kilburn said. "I wanted to live in one of these homes. I wanted to own one."

A former journalist, Kilburn was in Seoul to cover the 1988 Olympics but fell so much in love with the traditional architecture that he decided to stay. He and his Korean wife, Jade, soon bought a hanokhouse.

But life there has been anything but serene.

For six years, Kilburn has been battling city officials over what he calls the systematic destruction ofhanok homes in the area. Despite the creation of a preservation zone there decades ago, hundreds ofhanoks have been demolished by developers and speculators who use loopholes to cash in on rising land values, he says.

The battle has shaped the 67-year-old tea merchant into an unlikely activist: a foreigner who insists that South Korea is not doing enough to halt the demise of its own heritage.

He's called the "Guardian of Hanok Housing," waging a passionate one-man campaign to protect the architecture he loves. With his graying hair, he's a grandfatherly figure who enjoys reading in the quiet of his home office. But mention the fate of the hanoks, and a spark of mischief lights his eyes.

City officials acknowledge that not all preservation efforts have worked. "We're trying to preserve thehanoks," said Han Hyo-dong, director of the city's Hanok Culture Division. "But we have no legal power. We cannot stop [the destruction]. We're trying to pass laws to enforce our protection efforts."

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F1 Grand Prix comes to Korea

As the 17th round of the 2010 season, Korea’s first Formula 1 Grand Prix event got off to a roaring start, despite problems with the weather and organizational issues. The newly completed track in Yeongam, South Jeolla Province, opened, just in time to welcome visitors from around the world for the races, which started on October 24.

Despite being well known internationally for its car exports and brands like Hyundai-Kia, Korea has relatively little experience with automobile racing and motor sports.  Despite this, the construction of the circut at Yeongam is seen as a step towards raising Korea’s international sporting profile, and an important development project for Korea’s southern-most regions.

                             (Photo: Yonhap News)
The track was designed by German architect Herman Tilke, at a cost of some 250 billion won. The 5.62 kilometer circuit is the result of a deal between British sports entrepreneur Bernie Ecclestone and the Korea Auto Valley Operation (KAVO), a joint venture between M-Bridge Holdings and Jeollanam-do regional government.

The newly-laid Korea International Circuit track received praise from drivers, who lauded its demanding nature.  There were also a few suggestions for future races, and the track will be altered to accommodate these and improve overall safety and enjoyment.

Despite initial fears that the races would be poorly attended, fans turned out to fill the bleachers and cheer on their favorites, bringing the stands to near capacity.  

                                    (Photo: Yonhap News)

Nearly 170,000 spectators attended, with 25,000 showing up for the first day of the three-day event.  On the second and third days, attendance jumped significantly, with 80,000 people coming on the final day, despite a deluge of rain that nearly caused some cancellations.  Formula 1’s global television audience is estimated to be almost 600 million people worldwide.

Because of the rain, the race started with safety cars, which lead the racers around the circuit until conditions are determined to be safe enough to permit the race to continue.  Even with delays, however, spectators were treated to a thrilling race, with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso taking first place, putting him within reach of his third title.  Second place went to McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton and third to Ferarri’s Felipe Massa. 

                                     (Photo: Yonhap News)

Michael Spavor, a Canadian living in Korea who attended the races, enthused about the experience, saying, "I'm a big fan of Formula 1, and went to races back in Canada. It was really exciting to see all these cars going through the rain, with the spray and the sound.  I sat in the main grandstand, and it was exhilarating, with gorgeous views not only of the track but of the sea beyond. It’s a great course."

                                     (Photo: Yonhap News)

Following the F1 events, South Jeolla’s new racing venue will play host to the Korea Formula Three Superprix from November 26-28.

Say Kimchi! World Kimchi Culture Festival wraps up on Wednesday

The 17th World Kimchi Culture Festival in Gwangju wraps up today, ending a five-day showcase of the best of Korea’s favorite condiment. This year’s theme, "The Taste of a Millennium Spreading into the World," reflects how the festival seeks wider recognition of kimchi among global citizens, while creating an opportunity for visitors to learn more about this uniquely Korean food.

Kimchi is a fermented food that can trace its roots on the peninsula back more than a thousand years. To Koreans, it is more than just an everyday foodstuff, but an important part of the eating experience. The organizing committee of the festival wants visitors to learn about the historical and cultural context of kimchi while enjoying the taste.

The festival took place in Gwangju's Jung-oe Park from October 23 to 27, and included a wide variety of programs and cultural activities, such as the Kimchi Experience Zone, where visitors were able to try their hand at making kimchi.

For more information about the festival, please visit http://kimchi.gwangju.go.kr/ (Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese)