"Dokjongi", "Oebalteugi"... Hanji Terminology Established as National Standard

by Lee Jonggil

Published 10 Dec.2025 09:00(KST)

Unifying Production Terminology Previously Used Differently by Region

Experts consulting meeting for the proposal of terms related to Hanji

The terminology used in Hanji production has been established as a national standard (KS).

The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage under the Cultural Heritage Administration announced on December 10 that the "Vocabulary of Terms Related to Hanji" has been designated as a national standard through a notice by the Korea Forest Service, following a review by the Technical Committee for Wood and Paper Industry.

Since 2017, the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage has conducted studies on "Quality Standards for Traditional Hanji Used in Cultural Heritage Restoration" and "Research on the Identification of Traditional Material Characteristics and Evaluation of Applicability." Through these studies, it was confirmed that different regions and producers used varying terminology, making it difficult to document and research Hanji for preservation and transmission.

The institute carried out a standardization study of terms used in the Hanji production process, such as the processing of paper mulberry bast fiber, papermaking, dochim, and dyeing, and proposed a draft national standard in May 2023. After review by the National Institute of Forest Science's expert committee, public notice, the Korea Forest Service's technical committee, and the National Institute of Technology and Standards' standardization meeting, the terminology was officially established as a national standard.

The "Vocabulary of Terms Related to Hanji" includes terms, definitions, and classification names according to papermaking methods, all related to the production procedures such as fiber processing, papermaking, and Hanji processing.