Koreahouse offering cultural activities on Independence Day

A Korean traditional fan dance performance during last year’s event.

All doors to the Koreahouse in Gangnam will be open to the public on Korean Independence Day on Wednesday.
The Foundation for the Preservation of Cultural Properties said it was opening its cultural center to provide both Koreans and foreign children, who may be more accustomed to Harry Potter, hamburgers and jeans, an opportunity to experience traditional Korean culture.
The foundation said the visitors will have a choice between learning about handmade products using traditional Korean paper, hanji, with the help of hanji masters, or experiencing the coloring of fabrics using traditional Korean methods. From the coloring the children will be given the opportunity to design their own T-shirts.

Children make prints using a traditional method using black ink. Courtesy of the Foundation for the Preservation of Cultural Properties

Additionally, the children will have a chance to learn traditional printing of folk characters such as dokebi or Korean goblins, scary ghost faces, tigers and traditional symbols using black ink.
Other experiences include coloring fans and drawing the Korean flag, the Taegukgi on hanji. The children will also have an opportunity to dress in traditional attire and take souvenir pictures.
From 1 to 2 p.m. children and their parents can learn traditional entertainment, including gukak, or traditional Korean music, a traditional dance using fans and samulnori, a folk performance using gongs and drums.
An animated film showing pansori, or Korean folk story telling using opera-like singing, will be also shown.

For more fun, the children can try traditional game such as jegichagi, where a single participant or a group try to keep a small flat object in the air using their feet.
Children will receive stickers and a certificate showing that they completed the Korean experience. Admission is 5,000 won ($5.40).
For more information call 567-7191 or visit the Website at www.kous.or.kr.

By Lee Ho-jeong Staff Writer [ojlee82@joongang.co.kr]