PARK SANG-MOON - koreajoongangdaily

PARK SANG-MOON

park.sangmun@joongang.co.kr

Lee Wan-kyu demonstrates reproducing Danyusemungyeong, a bronze mirror with geometric patterns, at his studio in Yongin, Gyeonggi. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Secrets of Danyusemungyeong: How one man cracked a 2,500-year-old bronze mystery

Danyusemungyeong, which refers to a bronze mirror with geometric patterns, was created about 2,500 years ago, spanning from the late Bronze Age to early Iron Age. Due to its elaborate patterns, it is also called Jeongmungyeong.

2025.5.6

Kim Yeong-jo, who is designated as a national intangible cultural asset due to his knowledge on the techniques of creating nakhwa paintings, which uses a heated iron instead of a brush, works at his studio in Boeun, North Chungcheong. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Playing with fire: Korean artist takes hot irons to canvas for intricate drawings

Nakhwa refers to the traditional technique of drawing and writing on paper, wood, leather and silk using a heated iron. Due to its complexity, the art is on the verge of disappearing, but master artisan Kim Yeong-jo is striving to preserve it.

2025.2.24

Sohn Dae-hyun, the artisan who practices the technique of making najeon chilgi (lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-pearl) adds the final touches to his creation at Sugok Workshop located in Gwangju, Gyeonggi. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Natural beauty in najeon chilgi: Upholding tradition in Korea's mother-of-pearl craft

Sohn Dae-hyun has been playing a pivotal role in spreading the beauty of najeon chilgi. The 76-year-old artisan has been practicing the technique for 60 years. He was designated as the country’s first najeon chilgi artisan in 1991.

2025.1.16

Stained glass artist Choi Wook-mi, the head of Peniel Sculpture Art Research Institute, adds the finishing touches to her work at the institute in Anseong, Gyeonggi. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Stained glass artist Choi Wook-mi wants to leave her mark on churches

Choi Wook-mi, head of the Piniel Sculpture Art Research Institute, is on a mission to spread the art of stained glass around Korea.

2024.12.21

Dignitaries including Hungarian Ambassador to South Korea Istvan Szerdahelyi, center left, First Vice Health Minister Lee Ki-il, center right, Roh Jae-heon, left, chairman of the Korea-Hungary Friendship Association, and Ryu Kwon-ha, second from left, honorary consul of Hungary and a visiting professor at Jeonbuk National University, toast at a national day event commemorating the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 at the Ambassador Hotel in central Seoul on Friday. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Dignitaries commemorate Hungarian Revolution of 1956

Dignitaries took part in a national day event commemorating the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 at the Ambassador Hotel in central Seoul on Friday.

2024.10.20

Metal artist Hyun Kwang-hun focuses on assembling watch parts at his studio located in Huam-dong, Yongsan District, central Seoul. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Just like clockwork: Metal artist embraces analog beauty of the cogwheel

Artist Hyun Kwang-hun creates art with metal pieces. He is involved in the A to Z of watchmaking and even produces a tiny screw as small as 0.6 millimeters by himself. He also makes handmade film cameras under the brand name Heartbeat.

2024.10.10

Yoo Se-hyun, an intangible cultural asset for his skills in making traditional arrows, checks on the shaft to see whether the shaft is twisted or not at his studio located in Young Jip Bows & Arrows Museum in Paju, Gyeonggi. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Staying on target: Artisan Yoo Se-hyun keeps the art of traditional Korean arrow-making alive

Gungsijang Yoo Se-hyun is a 60-year-old artisan that has been making traditional Korean arrows for over 40 years — a family business that's been handed down for four generations.

2024.8.22

Artist Shin Yong-il works on his artwork featuring texts from “Jikji Simche Yojeol,” which roughly translates to 'Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests’ Zen Teachings,' at his studio in Gunpo, Gyeonggi. [PARK SANG-MOON]

Down to earth: Artist Shin Yong-il uses soil, water in inspirational artworks

The 68-year-old artist, Shin Yong-il, uses a mixture of soil and water to write letters from "Jikji" on his canvas and then covers the letters by repainting the layers of soil.

2024.7.4

Oman Day

Dignitaries celebrate the 53rd National Day of Oman at the Lotte Hotel in central Seoul on Monday.

2023.11.21

Kim Gak-han, a holder of National Intangible Cultural Heritage for gakjajang (calligraphic engraving), works at his studio Go-One Kim Gak Han Gakja Research Center in Bangbae-dong in Seocho District, southern Seoul. [PARK SANG-MOON]

[ZOOM KOREA] Gakja, the art of wooden block printing, continues to make its mark

Gakja is the Korean word that refers to the craft of engraving letters or images on wooden plates or blocks. A master of this craft is called a gakjajang. Korea’s oldest woodblock gakja is the Pure Light Dharani Sutra, which is one of the objects...

2022.8.4