By Honorary Reporter Glaiza Godinez from Philippines

Photos = Glaiza Godinez

What better way to understand Korean culture than through the arts? And this is how I happily ended up with fingers sticky with glue and paint this summer.

The Korean Cultural Center in the United Arab Emirates and the Dubai branch of King Sejong Institute invited Hallyu lovers to attend online cultural lectures. Selected participants were sent learning and material kits to do the activities at home. 

I signed up for the kits featuring Korean arts and crafts and started with Hanji.

What is Hanji?
Hanji is traditional Korean paper used in the past for calligraphy and printing, wallpaper, household items and ornaments. Made from the mulberry tree's inner bark, the paper is strong and can last a long time. Today, Hanji comes in various colors and is used to create lovely handicrafts like boxes, fans and plates.

What's in the kit?

How to make it?

1. Tape the edges of the cardboard and super glue them to form a square plate.

2. Using the brush, apply glue to the precut pieces of paper.

3. Glue the paper on the cardboard covering the inner and outer edges.

4. Glue the remaining pieces of paper on the back and front.

5. Finally, glue the pattern on the front.

What I learned
Making this small Hanji plate was easy. I first watched the tutorial video with a Korean instructor and English subtitles and saw it again. Gluing and smoothing the paper took little time. The result was a pretty purple plate that now sits on my shelf. 

Other fun facts I picked up from the lecture are that Hanji drawers are great for storing clothes because the paper absorbs moisture well, and rice stored in Hanji jars keeps out bugs and lasts longer.

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.