[Seoul District News] Yongsan Craft Center Hwaggakjang Lee Jaeman Introduces Over 20 Gakjil Crafts, Free Viewing at Yongsan Craft Center 4th Floor Exhibition Room from April 1 to May 22... '2022 Gangnam Festival Organizing Committee' Official Launch... Geumcheon-gu, 2022 Food Promotion Fund Loan
Inside the exhibition hall of the 4th floor multipurpose room at Yongsan Craft Center, "Hwaggak: A Festival of Five Colors"
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) Yongsan Craft Center (274 Itaewon-ro) presents the special invitational exhibition by National Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 109 Hwaggakjang Lee Jae-man, titled ‘Hwaggak: The Feast of Five Colors.’
Hwaggak is a traditional Korean horn craft using the horn of a yellow ox. The technique involves heating the highly transparent ox horn, flattening it, shaving it thinly, making it into paper, then decorating it with designs and coloring using stone powder pigments to complete the work.
Processing one yellow ox horn produces only a single small horn paper (gakji) about 10?20 cm in size. Due to the difficulty in sourcing and processing materials, Hwaggak crafts have traditionally been used only by special aristocratic classes or royal families.
Hwaggak artisan Lee Jae-man is currently the only designated master in Hwaggak craft. He was a disciple of the late master Eum Il-cheon, a third-generation horn craftsman from the late Joseon period, and became the youngest National Intangible Cultural Property holder in 1996.
This exhibition features over 20 Hwaggak craft pieces, including a Hwaggak colored box and a Go board reproducing relics, as well as newly created works by Lee Jae-man such as zodiac-themed pencil cases, Buddhist scripture boxes, jewelry boxes, silver knives, gayageum, and three-tiered cabinets.
A representative of the craft center said, “The meticulous work of the Hwaggak artisan always inspires admiration,” adding, “Viewing the Hwaggak Go board, which reproduces the ‘Mokhwajadangguk’ said to have been gifted by Baekje King Uija to Japanese Emperor Shomu, along with its background story, will make the experience even more impressive.”
The exhibition runs from April 1 to May 22. It is free to visit on the 4th floor multipurpose room of the craft center, except on legal holidays and Mondays when the center is closed.
Yongsan-gu Mayor Seong Jang-hyun said, “This exhibition will allow visitors to feel the artisan spirit that carries on the legacy of Hwaggak craft, which does not discolor even after a thousand years,” and added, “As spring arrives after a cold winter, we hope you enjoy the feast of Hwaggak dyed in brilliant colors.”
On the 1st floor of the craft center, the ‘color FULL’ exhibition, which expands the concept of craft with colorful acrylic works, is also held until May 31. On weekends, one-day experiences in ceramics, lacquerware, metalwork, and hanji crafts are available by prior reservation.
Gangnam-gu (Mayor Jung Soon-gyun) officially launched the ‘2022 Gangnam Festival Organizing Committee.’ The 25-member committee, composed of experts in various festival fields, heads of cooperating organizations, and public officials, will operate until November, providing advisory roles for the overall Gangnam Festival.
At the meeting held on the 27th of last month at Gangnam-gu Office, 23 people attended, including Committee Chair Son Sook and 16 organizing committee members, 4 public officials including Mayor Jung Soon-gyun, and 3 directors including Director Park Min-hee. During the meeting, committee members were appointed, reports on the history of the Gangnam Festival and the basic direction for 2022 were presented, and experts were consulted and exchanged opinions.
Since 2019, Gangnam Festival has laid the foundation to evolve from a local event to a global festival. During 2020 and 2021, when face-to-face festivals were impossible due to COVID-19, it led a new paradigm of online festivals. This year, with the development of vaccines and treatments easing social distancing, a large-scale face-to-face festival is planned.
Mayor Jung Soon-gyun said, “Since the launch of the 7th local government, Gangnam-gu has embarked on a challenge to make the Gangnam Festival a world-class brand,” adding, “Now established as Korea’s representative global urban festival, we will elevate the Gangnam Festival to an iconic event like Brazil’s Rio Carnival and create ‘Gangnam, the world’s number one city.’”
Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) is providing loans from the Food Promotion Fund to improve food hygiene standards and food culture for small food-related businesses struggling due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.
The loan fund totals 150 million KRW and will be operated on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.
Eligible applicants are food manufacturing and food service businesses (general, rest, bakery, and catering) licensed (registered) in Geumcheon-gu. However, operators of pubs, soju bars, karaoke bars, entertainment bars, businesses handling objectionable foods, those currently repaying loans from the Food Promotion Fund, or those within one year after repayment are excluded.
The loan is for ‘facility improvement funds’ used for repairs and renovations aimed at improving hygiene levels or for installing and maintaining necessary machinery and equipment for business operations. Loans can cover up to 80% of the total cost. Model businesses may also use funds for improving and operating hygiene management facilities.
The loan amount per business ranges from 20 million KRW to 150 million KRW, with an interest rate lower than market rates at 2% (1% for restroom facility improvements). The terms include a grace period of 1 to 3 years and equal installment repayments over 2 to 5 years.
Details on the amount available by business type and repayment conditions can be found in the ‘Notices and Announcements’ section on the Geumcheon-gu Health Center website.
Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon said, “We hope the Food Promotion Fund loan support will greatly help food-related businesses struggling due to COVID-19.”
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