Enjoying the charm of bojagi, a new spot in Seoul / Hyejin Unnie's cheerful report from Korea

Hello everyone! This is Hyejin unnie. This time, I'll be reporting on my visit to the Seoul Craft Museum in search of the roots of bojagi, the Korean wrapping cloth.

I went to the Seoul Craft Museum, a spot that's currently attracting a lot of attention.

The Seoul Craft Museum, which just opened in November 2021, is a hot spot right now. It features seven buildings, including a traditional Korean house (hanok), and a plaza, showcasing Korean national treasures, modern crafts such as pottery and embroidery, and a children's museum where visitors can learn through hands-on experiences. Originally, this site was used for a long time as the residence of princes and princesses (equivalent to crown princes in Japan) of the Joseon dynasty, and also as a venue for royal weddings. It is located next to Gyeongbokgung Palace, the first royal palace of the Joseon dynasty, which is already a popular tourist spot.

Guidebooks say it's right near Anguk Station, but I recommend getting off at the next station, Gyeongbokgung Station, and walking along the historic streets. You'll feel like you've started your historical tour from the moment you walk along the path surrounded by the stone walls of Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Colorful bojagi, when translated into Japanese, actually means...

Pojagi translates to "furoshiki" in Japanese. In Japan, you might imagine a patchwork of colorful fabrics, right? But in Korea, any cloth used to wrap things, even if it's a little thicker and a single color, is called "pojagi."

The main topic of this article, "bojagi," is on permanent display at the Seoul Museum of Crafts and Technology, so you can see it anytime.

The exhibition stylishly displays a variety of sizes and materials of bojagi, ranging from ornate patterns suitable for the royal court to those used in everyday life, on transparent acrylic panels, along with explanations of their uses. It was a busy weekend, but perhaps because I was completely captivated by the beauty of the bojagi, I was able to view it in a very calm atmosphere.

"Pojagi Art": A creative way to convey your heartfelt feelings.

In Korea, there's a culture of wrapping gifts and souvenirs in bojagi before giving them to someone. You've probably seen it in Korean dramas, haven't you? The variations in wrapping and tying techniques have spread widely, and it's currently experiencing a boom as "bojagi art."

There are no strict rules about how to create bojagi art; the use of colors, wrapping techniques, and knotting methods are entirely up to you. You should choose a wrapping style that suits the size and pattern of the item being wrapped, while keeping the recipient in mind.

The only exception is that in Korean wedding ceremonies, the bride and groom exchange gifts called "ham" and "yedang," and there are traditional rules regarding how to wrap and use the bojagi (Korean patchwork) for these gifts (how to give, present, and receive them). It's so complicated that I even went to a specialized school to study it.

The box of bojagi (Korean patchwork cloth) that my in-laws gave me is still a precious treasure to me. The red and blue sheen and the embroidery of birds and flowers are simply beautiful. It was used to wrap clothes, ornaments, bags, and letters.

This new museum opened during the pandemic, so I imagine not many people from outside Korea have visited yet, but it's a great new spot where you can fully immerse yourself in Korean history, so I highly recommend it.

Okay, bye!

Kim Hye-jin
김 혜진 / KIM HYE JIN
Born and raised in Ulsan, South Korea, I am a Korean. My second home is Kobe, where I attended university and where my company is located. Currently, I run an interior design company in Chuncheon, South Korea. My hobbies are cooking and drinking tea.
Instagram "Chuncheon, UNO's home cooking":@uno_cook