This Paper Lasts a Thousand Years! Yeoju Hanji Culture Experience School

A sheet of very thin paper lasts one thousand years – intriguing? What’s more intriguing is that one hundred steps are necessary to make that one piece of paper. This interesting story of Korean Hanji (Korean traditional paper) will make you forget the coldness of this winter.

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There’s an old Korean saying: ‘Gyeon Oh Baek Ji Cheon Nyeon’ – meaning silk lasts 500 years but paper lasts 1000. Not every paper is like that, of course. This only applies to Hanji created in the traditional Korean style.
When I visited the Hanji Culture Experience School in the quiet country area of Yeoju County, Jeomdong-myun, President Go Geum-deok explained this to me.

– Yeoju Hanji Culture Experience School opened last summer.

In February of 2010, the Anpyeong branch of Jeomdong Elementary School closed after its final graduation. After this small school with 12 students in total closed, it was transformed into the Hanji Culture Experience School to offer the Hanji experience to people.

– In the birthplace of Hanji Jeonju, Park Seong-man manages a paper factory and runs a Hanji store in Insa-dong. He opened the school as the president. Park Sung-man is considered preeminent in Korea in matters pertaining to Hanji. He established this school to promote the superiority and popularity of Hanji, as convenient western-style paper dominates Korean society. He created various detailed experience programs for each generation and age group.

This place is not just a field of simple experience – it’s a factory producing Hanji. Moreover, renowned Hanji artists reside here to produce Hanji and create Hanji artworks. Lee Geun-sung of Anpyeong, a master of Korean Hanji, opened his workshop here. A number of Hanji artists including Yun Sun-sim, Oh Seong-hui, Lee Gye-in, and Noh Gang-hui now reside in the school. Even on days when experience programs are not offered, the school is a busy place. Steam rises as paper mulberry boils in lye and the boiled paper mulberry and reed stems hang on a long string. Lee Geun-sung doesn’t stop for a moment as he makes his paper. He dries the paper sheets one by one on a hot metal plate.

– One can see the detailed procedures of Hanji making at the Hanji school. They boil the pulp, dry it, bleach it, and sterilize the extract fibers. Then they have to filter the debris, shape the paper on a frame, dry it, and color it. Looking at all these steps, one realizes that it takes an incredibly long time and complex procedures to make one sheet of Hanji.

– The main ingredient of Hanji is paper mulberry. Due to clear seasonal divisions, Korean paper mulberry presents superlative fiber quality. The oldest paper books and tomes from Western countries are only 300 to 400 years old. In contrast, the superior quality of Hanji enabled Korea to preserve documents from the Shilla Dynasty until today. Paper can also be made from paper-bush, Wikstroemiatrichtoma Makino, buckwheat, straw, birch, and other materials.

– Artists here try making Hanji with diverse ingredients, and they allow the public to experience the same process. Almost all Hanji experience programs take place in the school. From the most basic Hanji making to Hanji doll making, people can experience an enormous number of programs including a craftwork program to make boxes and pencil cases, natural dye, Hanji envelops and cars, Hanji masts, fans, jegi, and kites. Anyone can experience these simply by registering in advance. People can even look around the workshops of masters. Visitors can view Hanji craftworks of residing artists at the gallery. Carpets, lamps, furniture, and daily items made from Hanji will take the visitors to a splendid world of paper art. People can also purchase Hanji and artwork made here. The playground houses a space where Hanji dolls reflect the detailed procedures of Hanji making.

– The Hanji school allows us to think about what is ‘Korean.’ As I came out of Hanji School, I thought about what President Go Geum-deok said with absolute conviction: “There’s no paper in the world greater than this.” Learning the truth of Hanji, which I didn’t know before – it was a greater reward than I imagined it would be before I visited the school.

Yeoju Hanji Culture Experience School
Inquiry and Contact: +82-31-886-0135~6
Address: 478 Jeomdong-myun, Yeoju County, Gyeonggi Province

How to visit
Yeongdong Expressway-> Yeoju IC->Toll Gate Sageori (Left Turn towards Jeomdong)-> Jeomdong-myeon Location (Straight for Approximately 10km)-> Jeomdong-myeon Township Office-> Jeomdong Post Office-> Left Turn towards Buron-myeon,, Jangan-ri-> Straight for approximately 5km-> Jangan-ri->Jangan-ri Ex-Jeomdong Elementary School, Anpyeong Branch

Facility Introduction: Hanji Production Room, Hanji Gallery & Shop, Experience Learning Classroom, Playground, etc.

How to Use: Folk Play Experience (Kite Making KRW 8,000, Hanji Making KRW 2,000, Jegi Making KRW 1,000, Fan Making KRW 3,000 to 5,000, Paper Mask Making KRW 3,000), Traditional Craftwork Experience (Basket KRW 8,000, Square Lamp KRW 22,000, Dish KRW 7,000 Hexagonal Jewel Box KRW 10,000 each, Pencil Case KRW 8,000, etc.), Paper craftwork, floral lamp making(KRW 7,000 to 30,000), Hanji application experience (Fan Folk-Drawing KRW 8,000, Natural Dye KRW 5,000 to 20,000), There are other programs including professional classes. Fill in the online application on the homepage to make a reservation.

Nearby Attractions: Silleuksa (Temple), Moka Museum, Birthplace of Empress Myeongseong, Yeoju Premium Outlet, Haeyurim Botanical Garden, Tomb of King Sejong, Museum of Modern Ceramics, Sejong Observatory, Yeoju Spring

Recommended Restaurants: Gangcheon-myeon Joseonok (+82-31-883-3939) is famous for traditional Korean course dishes. Maeuntang (spicy fish soup) is popular in the store complex in front of Silleuksa Temple. Maeul Haejangguk (+82-31-885-24590) inside the town is a great place for stop when Yeoju 5-Day Market takes place. Cheonseo-ri is the birthplace of Makguksu (noodles in beef or anchovy broth). Bongjin Makguksu(+82-31-882-8300) is the original store. Yeoju Bonga (+82-31-883-1277) near Yeoju IC is a rice restaurant certified by the city of Yeoju.

Nearby Accommodations: There is a cluster of pensions near Sanbuk-myeon. Pureumhaneuleunhasu (Blue Sky Milky Way) (+82-31-882-5878), Hana Pension (+82-31-884-4988), Full House (+82-31-885-1124) River View (+82-31-885-0393)

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