By UN Journal Lee Kap-soo The Association of Royal Crafts Culture of Korea and ORIHERI (Oriental Heritage) of Vietnam signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote bilateral cooperation in the exchanges of traditional cultural crafts between the two countries at the Janggyo Building in Seoul on Aug. 9. Lee Chil-yong, president of the Association of Royal Crafts Culture, and Tran Thi Ngoc Diep, chairwoman of ORIHERI, signed the MOU in a signing ceremony held at the Janggyo Building in Seoul. Under the pact, both sides agreed to promote cultural heritage exchange and introduce the import
UNJournal Kayla Lee | Many Korean legends and myths are closely linked to nature. One of the most notable is the 'Manbyeonghwajodo' (萬病花朝圖). As its name suggests, this unique flower is said to have the mystical ability to cure all ailments, and the legends and stories surrounding it have been passed down through the ages. Manbyeonghwajodo is a painting that depicts the characteristic elements of the flower in a stylized manner, rather than in a realistic form. Each canvas is labeled with the names of flowers, such as Hangyuoknyeo Jikgeumhwa, Hongdohwa, Dongjeonghosangbuyonghwa, Yeongjuhwa, Okd
UNJournal Jon Lee | In 2024, the bond between Korea and Africa was strengthened through a series of significant events. The Korea-Africa Summit featured the <Harmony in Symbols> exhibition, which was sponsored by the Ghanaian Embassy and showcased the works of ten notable Korean artists. These artists used traditional Ghanaian Adinkra symbols in their unique works. The exhibition was a highlight of cultural and artistic events during the summit. One of the notable artists we met was Yi Seo-hoo, whose use of the Abode Santann symbol, symbolizing cosmic power and omnipresence, has gained r
UNJournal Jon Lee | The 27th World Peace Art Exhibition 2024 has completed the first and second rounds of judging. The overall grand prize (Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award) went to Kang Moa (Folk Painting), and the category grand prizes (Seoul Mayor's Award and Chairman's Award) went to Cho Kyung-sun (Folk Painting), Kim Young-ok (Western Painting), Joo Eun-young (Western Painting), and Oh Yoon-hee (Korean Painting) and Cho Jin-won (Calligraphy). They will receive a certificate and a purchase cash prize. The 550 selected works out of 1,250 entries will be exhibited from August 21
UNJournal Kayla Lee | A solo exhibition by artist Jeon Byung-hee will be held on the 5th floor of Insa Art Plaza (Lefranc) in Insadong, Seoul from July 10 to 23. In this exhibition, Jeon has developed a technique called "petal touch three-dimensional oil painting technique," in which the artist sculpts petals with paint as if embroidering the emotions felt in her heart, and expresses her wishes for happiness as petals on the tip of her brush. I work in a way that feels a little unfinished because I want the viewers to fill in the gaps in their minds. It is a work that is completed by the artis
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young "Mercy in the heart, peace in the world!" This is the theme of the 2019 Buddha’s birthday celebration in the year of the Buddha, 2563! However, in recent years, we have witnessed many conflicts and instability around the world. Conflicts between nations, racial tensions, mistrust in politics, economic inequality, and many other issues have disrupted our daily lives. In the midst of this turmoil, the values of peace and mercy are more important than ever. The need for peace Conflict around the world is not just a localized problem. The modern world is globalized, and
By UN Journal Lee Jon-young Director Han Myung-ku questions the movie industry and society with his unique perspective on social issues. His next movie, 'Geojedo POW Camp,' is in full production as the set site has been finalized. Han, who won the Best Director award at the Indian International Film Festival for his film "The Silence of One’s Lover," will direct "Geojedo POW Camp," a dramatic film with a total budget of 75 billion won, which is scheduled for release in 2025. The executive producer will be Kim In-sik, chairman of the steering committee of the Korea Association of Film Producers
By UN Journal Kayla Lee If Wittgenstein, a master of modern philosophy, once said, "The ultimate goal of philosophy is to show the fly the way out of the bottle," then the ultimate goal of art would be described as "to make the fly in the bottle dance, sing, and dream, so that it can overcome the gravity of reality." In other words, art, with its unique imagination and creativity, is the pursuit of self-reflection, which includes not only philosophy but also the so-called literary periods of literature, history, and the humanities, and should be aimed at eternity while seeing the limits of hum
By UN Journal Kayla Lee To commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Belarus, the Diplomatic Journal and the UN Journal co-hosted a cultural exchange exhibition with the Embassy of Belarus in Seoul from July 3-8 at the Maru Art Center in Insa-dong, Seoul. The Korea-Belarus cultural exchange exhibition featured 11 works by Belarusian color magician Marc Chagall, 20 beautiful tourist photographs of Belarus, and 37 works by Korean Minwha (folk painting) artists. More than 60 foreign ambassadors, domestic artists and other guests, including Amb
UNJournal Kayla Lee | The Diplomatic Journal and the UN Journal are publishing a series of articles on folk paintings in both Korean and English to introduce Korean folk paintings to the world. –Ed. 渇忠輔國心無貳 (Galchungbogooksimmui) "A heart that is loyal and wants to serve the country has no two minds." This means that a person who is willing to serve the country is pure in heart and has no other thoughts. It shows that loyalty to the country is unwavering. Loyalty is a state of mind that transcends personal interests and is solely dedicated to the country. It means that you don't care about you
By UN Journal Kayla Lee The '2024 Int’l Venice Art Exhibition' will be held at Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello, a 17th-century Renaissance imperial palace and a famous historical landmark in central Venice, on July 27~Aug. 19. The theme of this exhibition emphasizes the concept of 'crossover', that is, beyond the constraints of concepts, regions, eras and creative media, bringing new thoughts and perspectives to humanity. The outstanding artists participating in the exhibition come from all over the world. Overcoming barriers of region, language, and age, we meet in Venice and share the spark of crea
By UN Journal Kayla Lee To commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and Belarus, the Diplomatic Journal and the UN Journal are co-hosting a cultural exchange exhibition with the Embassy of Belarus in Seoul from July 3-8 at the Grand Hall on the third floor of the Maru Art Center in Insa-dong, Seoul. In particular, the exchange exhibition will feature 20 tourist photographs of Belarus, 11 works by Belarusian color magician Marc Chagall, and 30 works by Korean folk artists. Marc Chagall is a French expressionist painter who is called “the magici
UNJournal Jon Lee | First Lady Kim Keon-hee attended the “Children Drawing Hope: Ukrainian Children's Art Exhibition' at the Blue House on May 21. The exhibition was initiated by Mrs. Olena Zelenska, who visited South Korea in May last year as a special envoy of the President of Ukraine, when she met with Mrs. Kim at the Yongsan Presidential Office and asked for support for the Ukrainians. Two months later, in July, Mrs. Kim was so impressed by Ukrainian children's artwork at the NATO Heads of State Spouses Program at the Lithuanian Ukraine Center that she promised to organize an exhibition in
UNJournal Jon Lee | Artist Joo Eun-young's note | Sometimes, we need a gesture to comfort us and give us delight and courage to look ahead. When I suddenly lifted my head up from my slumped position one day, the leaves hanging from the high branches against the blue sky, swaying gently, were like a vision waving to me. When we raise our hands and wave, when we raise our arms and wave, when we face each other and wave vigorously, and when we laugh together like that, the souls that have been withered by the desire that pierces each other and the conflict that spreads like a fungus are at once p
UNJournal Jon Lee | Pinocchio sits on a green couch deep in the forest. He is gazing at the distant sky with a slight smile on his face. Perhaps he's remembering a pleasant memory. A soft melody seems to be coming from the speaker of a phonometer poking its head into the forest across the street. The whole forest is filled with a clean energy. Pinocchio looks like an adult. He looks childlike and wary. He enjoys the infinite delusions of his imagination with his delicate wings, which are not yet strong enough to fly. The messengers of his excitement are a couple of lovebirds. Healthy parakeet