Gimpo Korean Cultural Center has been well known as a place to learn folk painting in Gimpo. Here, you can learn Korean paper, knots, leather crafts, home fashion, calligraphy and ribbon crafts along with traditional folk painting. 

Another challenge for happiness of life 

Director Lee Hye-won has been researching and educating folk painting at the Gimpo branch of the Korean Cultural Center for a long time. She was officially recognized as a master craftperson at a Korean master craftmen discovering project held at the National Assembly last fall. Last summer, she also held the first small exhibition of the Gimpo Folk Painting Society at the Gimpo Art Hall Gallery. The Gimpo Korean Culture Center is going to stand alone this year thanks to the hard work and cooperation of the director Lee and instructors at the center. 

Baek Seung-ah, who will be in charge of folk painting and home fashion, will conduct training on traditional folk painting in props made of hanji cloth. Lee Kyung-ah will be in charge of training that combines folk paintings and calligraphy. Jang Min-hee is a design major and has been involved in leather crafts for over 20 years. She ran a workshop in the past, working both book art and leather craft, and produced simple props and sold them at the open market. For her, the Gimpo Korean Cultural Center is another unique challenge. Lee Nam-jeong is in charge of the traditional knot class. Lee says “Knots are both easy and difficult in some ways. This is because it is easier if you are sure that it is ripe in your own hands. It requires a lot of patience and effort from the students, but I think my role is to help them finish the class patiently step by step.“ Choi Yeon-jeong is in charge of traditional Korean paper craft training. Kim Yang-jin is taking a ribbon craft class.

Aspiration of the Gimpo Korean Cultural Center

Q&A with Director Lee 

Q. What is the meaning of launching the center in ernest?

A. It is my wish for teachers to learn traditional crafts and build their careers here. As the center made a new start independently, we all agreed that we should continue more diverse activities.

Q. Do you think traditional crafts can be known around the world?

A. I think so. We are making plans one by one and putting them into practice, and we want to show off traditional crafts abroad if there is an opportunity by using duty free shops and collaborations. 

Q. What message do you want to convey?

A. I am very grateful and happy that the center has come to such a community. We will do our best to commercialize the works of all craftsmen and artists. If the works or props we make can give value to the public, I think it’s a great reward for everyone. We are currently working on collaboration with the World Folk Painting Association.