'Hanji' Korea's traditional paper

Published on 2011/02/24 | Source

Paper flowers made by artist Lee Soon-jae are on display at the "Korean Traditional Paper Craft Exhibition" held at Namsangol Hanok Village, central Seoul, Wednesday. / Korea Times photos by Shim Hyun-chul

By Shim Hyun-chul

Hanji is traditional Korean paper, made from the bark of paper mulberry. It is strong and long-lasting, known for not discoloring, even after some 1,000 years.

The paper is mainly used for literary purpose, but also popular as a construction material for window and door since it is good for lagging.

The traditional paper is also used in handicrafts, such as hanji dresses, paper dolls. In the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), ordinary people used scraps of paper to make folk art.

"Korean Traditional Paper Craft Exhibition", an exhibition on hanji, is currently at Namsangol Hanok Village, central Seoul.

Three hanji craftsmen, Lee Soon-jae, Oh Jeong-bong and Oh Yung-jae, are displaying their artworks based on making techniques.
The paper is reborn as flowers and birds by folding repeatedly. They also twist and weave long, narrow sheets of paper to create geometric patterns.

The exhibition is free of charge and open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. through February. Call (02) 2266-6923 for more information.