Lesson 3 Go Beyond Korea
Korea’s Heritage Recognized Abroad
Korean pop culture is loved all over the world under the name “Korean Wave.”
Korean pop music has topped global music charts.
Korean films and TV shows attract fans from across the globe.
Now, beyond pop culture, the world is starting to pay attention to Korea’s traditional culture.
Let’s take a look at some Korean heritage recognized abroad.
Hanji, a Rising Star of the Louvre
In Europe, paper is used for the restoration of cultural assets.
For example, paper can be used to repair the damaged areas of paintings and other things made of paper.
It can also bring new life to decaying furniture and sculptures by filling in the cracks.
For such purposes, the Japanese paper called washi has been widely used.
The Louvre Museum in France was no exception.
However, a Korean who was working at the Louvre in 2014 wanted to let the world know the value of hanji, traditional handmade Korean paper.
He convinced the head of the museum’s restoration team to read his study on the comparison of traditional papers from Korea and Japan.
After reading his study, the Louvre became interested in hanji and carried out an experiment to see whether it would be suitable for use in restoration.
They wet both washi and hanji to compare their durability.
Ultimately, hanji was found to be more durable than washi.
Unlike washi, which has its fibers lined up in one direction, hanji is made with both horizontal and vertical fibers.
This means that the fibers in hanji are more closely woven, making the paper stronger.
This also allows hanji to maintain its original size and shape better when there is a change in its moisture content.
Because of its durability, hanji was proven to be excellent material for restoration.
Thus, in 2017, the Louvre used hanji for the first time to restore a relic from its collection.
Since then, hanji has been used more and more to restore various cultural assets of the museum.
Who knows? Maybe someday the Mona Lisa, one of the museum’s most famous paintings, will be restored with hanji.
Homi, Gardeners’ New Favorite
Search for “Korean homi ” on any online platform, and you can find reviews like these:
Lina: This is the best gardening tool I have ever had.
Oliver: If you enjoy gardening, this will for sure give you extra pleasure.
Benjamin: Whatever you may expect, this is beyond your imagination.
Also, there are many videos praising the homi and showing how to use it.
The Korean homi is becoming the hot new tool gardeners around the world must have.
What is a homi and why is it so popular?
The Korean homi is a traditional farming tool that has gotten a lot of attention, not in Korea but in countries like the United States and Australia.
In 2019, a video of how to use a homi spread quickly and widely on the Internet.
Suddenly, the homi had become one of the top selling gardening tools on the largest online shopping site in the world.
The homi became so popular because it can be used for a wide range of gardening tasks.
In fact, people in Europe and the U.S. use separate gardening tools to weed, dig, and firm the ground.
However, a homi has an ideal shape that makes all those activities possible with one tool.
Its thinnest blade is used for weeding, and the sharp point is used to dig the ground.
The flat side is used to firm the ground.
Next, a homi has a comfortable design.
The Korean homi is usually handmade by blacksmiths.
From decades of experience, they have found the best angles between the handle and the blade so that users can tend gardens without pain in their arms and hands.
During the manufacturing process, a homi is hammered several times by hand, which makes it stronger and more elaborate.
This is what differentiates the handmade Korean homi from gardening tools made by machine.
As you see above, the reputation of Korean heritage is spreading throughout the world.
This proves that the world is discovering its value and potential.
What do you think will be the next Korean heritage item that will be recognized abroad?
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