Program to Experience the Beauty of Han Culture at Sangchonjae, Jongno-gu

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[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu (Mayor Kim Young-jong) will sequentially operate beneficial programs from mid-June at the Hanok cultural space Sangchonjae, where visitors can personally experience the beauty and excellence of Korean culture.

Located in Sejong Village on the west side of Gyeongbokgung Palace, Sangchonjae is a place where Jongno-gu carefully restored a long-neglected Hanok abandoned house owned by the National Police Agency and opened it in June 2017.

It consists of three buildings?Anchae, Sarangchae, and Byeolchae?covering a total floor area of 138.55㎡ on the first floor. Contributing to the preservation of Hanok culture, which is gradually disappearing due to urban development and commercialization, it offers various programs to experience the excellence of Hangeul and traditional culture, reflecting the regional identity as the birthplace of King Sejong the Great.

The first program, “Making Hangeul Lotus Leaf Tea Pouches,” which allows participants to feel the charm of Gyubang craft, will be held every Wednesday from June 17 to July 1. Over a three-week course, participants will learn to dye fabric with the natural dye “jjok” to create blue Hangeul patterns, make naturally dyed lotus leaf pouches, draw lotus leaves, and sew leaf veins.

The film camera outing program “Walking, Shooting, Remembering Sejong Village,” which explores and photographs various parts of Sejong Village guided by an alleyway narrator, will be available in a two-week course on June 27 and July 4.

Participants must bring a film camera and will learn from the theory of film cameras to how to produce documentary-style photos and take photos that tell stories. On the last day, there will be a time to share photos taken so far and exchange know-how.

“Drawing Hangeul, Hangeul Munjado,” a program to complete a Munjado (a traditional Korean letter painting) in Hangeul, will be held every Thursday from June 18 to July 2 over three weeks. Participants will learn what Minhwa Munjado is, how to get familiar with ink and brushes, and how to sketch the base drawing (bansu).

On Sunday, June 28, the last Sunday of June, “Hanok Tea Ceremony with Music” will be held in a quiet Hanok, where participants can experience a traditional tea ceremony along with a traditional performance. They will learn about tea ingredients and the effects of plants, be introduced to tea ceremony tools, taste leaf tea, and enjoy a Gayageum performance, providing a relaxing time in daily life.

Anyone interested among adults can apply for Sangchonjae programs, which are recruited on a first-come, first-served basis through the Jongno Cultural Foundation website or by phone. For more details, please contact Sangchonjae or the Jongno Cultural Foundation.

Mayor Kim Young-jong said, “I hope everyone will take the time to personally feel and experience the beauty and excellence of traditional culture at the Hanok cultural space Sangchonjae,” adding, “We will continue to prepare beneficial programs that utilize the rich historical and cultural resources of the region so that residents can relax in their daily lives.”