Han Asia Times

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 ...

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 Chun...

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  hanok houses 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."...

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 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 informa...