By Honorary Reporter Marianna Szucs from Hungary
Photos = Marianna Szucs

The Korean Cultural Center in London on Jan. 31 held a workshop on Korean culture boxes to mark Seollal (Lunar New Year), with the four displays featuring a sarangbang (guest reception room), anbang (women's quarters), Hanbok (traditional clothing) and traditional instruments.

 

The first box was the sarangbang, a room for men to study and welcome guests. It had the four "friends" of a Joseon Dynasty scholar -- Hanji (traditional paper), pil (brush), meok (ink) and byeoru (inkstone or stick) -- items essential for their studies and philosophical activities.

The second featured the anbang, a women's quarters in the innermost part of a home and protected from any uninvited views. The most exciting items were the iron and ironing board that Joseon women used.

After the lectures, visitors tried on Hanbok from a wide selection of accessories for both women and men. This was the best selection of traditional headgear, pouches, norigae (tassel) and shoes (my personal favorite) I'd seen in London.

The next event was an introduction to traditional musical instruments: the janggu (hourglass-shaped drum); sogo (small handheld drum); buk (barrel-shaped drum); geomungo (plucked zither with bridges and frets); gayageum (12-string zither); kkwaenggwari (small flat gong); and jing (large gong). Each instrument was briefly explained and the host of the evening also showed how to play them.

Two other displays downstairs featured basic and geological data on Korea and Hangeul, the Korean alphabet. The latter was both entertaining and educational.

Ending the event was a gift given to each visitor: a beautiful publication on the event wrapped in bojagi (traditional wrapping cloth).

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.