Lee Jaegap, Andong City Council Member, Calls for Support of Hanji Industry in Crisis... Ordinance Passed in Plenary Session

Only Two 9-Term Basic Council Members Nationwide

Andong City Council member Lee Jaegap announced on the 10th that the "Ordinance for the Full Amendment of the Ordinance on the Promotion and Support of the Hanji Industry in Andong City," which he proposed as the main sponsor at the 252nd extraordinary session, has passed the plenary session.

This amendment revises and supplements key provisions necessary for the promotion and support of the Hanji industry in Andong City in preparation for the enactment of the "Traditional Culture Industry Promotion Act" in September last year and the anticipated 2026 UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage listing of "(tentatively named) Hanji-Traditional Knowledge and Skills."

Andong City Councilor Lee Jaegap

The main revisions include redefining Hanji and traditional Hanji, and expanding the scope of support to include surveys, research, professional training, domestic and international promotion, and international exchanges for the advancement of the Hanji industry.

In addition, to expand demand for traditional Hanji, the amendment allows for requests for the preferential purchase and cooperation in the procurement of traditional Hanji and Hanji products for use in public institution promotional materials, appointment and commendation certificates, important records, cultural heritage restoration projects, and the construction and repair of Hanok (traditional Korean houses).

Hanji, representing our history and culture, is an important national heritage that has played a significant role in the history of paper worldwide, and has contributed to Korea's status as a powerhouse in UNESCO's Memory of the World program.

However, despite the high domestic and international regard for Hanji, the Korean Hanji industry is facing a crisis due to a decrease in the production of paper mulberry, a decline in the number of Hanji manufacturers, and a reduction in the consumption of traditional Hanji.

Lee Jaegap of the Andong City Council stated, "Andong has long been a center of traditional Hanji, and is currently one of the few regions in the country that produces paper mulberry. Through this amendment, I hope to contribute to the sustainable development of the Hanji industry in Andong City and to elevate the international status of Korean traditional Hanji."