Support for Hanji Cultural Industry Expands

Approximately 20,000 Hanji Certificates Delivered to Central Ministries, Local Governments, and Schools
Education on Hanji Manufacturing Methods... Support for Up to Three Successors per Workshop

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Craft & Design Foundation announced on the 27th that they will increase support for the development of the Hanji cultural industry. They will distribute Hanji-based consumable items such as guestbooks and letter paper to embassies and Korean cultural centers, and deliver about 20,000 Hanji certificates to central government agencies, local governments, and schools. An official stated, "Institutions that incorporate Hanji use in their certificate guidelines will be given preferential treatment in support competitions."

This project also includes the creation of Hanji spaces. Ten national and public cultural facilities will be selected to be decorated inside with Hanji for interior architecture and Hanji crafts. Opportunities for students to experience Hanji will also be expanded. Art instructors will be dispatched to elementary schools conducting cultural and artistic education to distribute Hanji experience kits, and university students majoring in interior architecture, calligraphy, and crafts will be taught Hanji manufacturing methods. Classes to experience traditional Hanji will also be prepared at overseas Sejong Institutes.

A foundation for pioneering overseas markets will also be established. While prominently featuring Hallyu stars, overseas paper experts and restoration paper manufacturers will be invited to visit traditional Hanji workshops and participate in training sessions. An official said, "This will be an opportunity to promote the excellent quality of traditional Hanji overseas."

Support will also be provided to maintain the legacy of Hanji workshops. Considering that 86% of workshop artisans are aged 60 or older, up to three successors per workshop will be supported. Additionally, various related studies will be conducted by December to support the registration of Hanji as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. An official said, "This plan was established by collecting diverse field opinions from ten Hanji companies nationwide," adding, "We hope that various supports will help revitalize the Hanji industry."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.