WONJU, Oct. 2 (Korea Bizwire) – The Wonju Hanji Culture Festival, celebrating the traditional Korean paper known as hanji, attracted 430,000 visitors both online and in person, organizers said on October 1. The event’s success is seen as a significant step toward securing UNESCO World Heritage status for the centuries-old craft.
The four-day festival, which ran from September 26 to 29, marked its 26th year with a blend of exhibitions and interactive experiences. It showcased the versatility of hanji through a range of programs that encouraged local artistic participation.
A highlight of the festival was the “I’m an Artist Too” challenge, which brought together 20 hanji academy instructors and artists. They collaborated with festivalgoers to create and install 5,117 diverse hanji lanterns across the festival grounds, including the “Citizen’s Stairs,” the “Hill of Light,” and nearby walking paths.
The festival’s signature event, a hanji fashion show featuring 50 citizen models, captivated audiences and served as the centerpiece of the celebration. Models donned outfits crafted from the traditional paper, demonstrating its potential beyond conventional uses.
This year’s festival expanded its footprint by simultaneously hosting events at the Wonju Hanji Theme Park and the Gangwon Gamyeong, a historic government complex. The latter venue began drawing visitors a week before the main festival with exhibitions of hanji dolls in the Seonhwadang hall and traditional lanterns in the rear garden.
Lee Seon-kyung, chairperson of the Wonju Hanji Culture Festival Committee, emphasized the significance of this year’s event. “With our application for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status, we infused every aspect of the festival with our aspirations for this recognition,” Lee said.
Kim Jin-hee, director of the Hanji Culture Foundation, outlined future plans: “We’re fully committed to achieving UNESCO registration by 2026. We’ll also strengthen our national network of hanji artisans to enhance expertise in the field.”
Image credit: The Wonju Hanji Culture Festival Committee, Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
