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Past and present come together at Korean Style Expo
It's Korean style all the way for the latest exhibition at COEX (Convention for Exhibition Center) in Samseong-dong Seoul from July 23 to 25.
A total of 133 companies will display Korean style products classified into six categories: Hangeul (writing characters), Hanbok, (traditional dress), Hansik (traditional food), Hanok (traditional architecture), Hanji (traditional paper) and Hanguk Eumak (traditional music).
Hangeul fashion, Hangeul calligraphy and related stationery will be showcased in the Hangeul section, while the Hansik section offers traditional dishes, beverages, liquor, and related tableware.
The Korean clothing section will display Hanbok dresses, modernized Hanbok, fabrics and related accessories, while the Hanok section boasts Korean style architects, housing design and gardens. Colorful paper crafts will fill the Hanji section while musical performances, record companies, books and experts will be in the Hanguk Eumak section.
“This year we are putting more emphasis on showing the design trends of Korean products instead of traditional products themselves,” an official at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism explained. This is the reason why the annual exhibition changed its name from the existing “Hanstyle Expo” to “Korean Style Expo,” which took off in 2006.
As part of the attempt to re-interpret traditional and modern design, one of the newly established spaces includes a miniature pavilion surrounded by a traditional low-cut stonewall, lit with LED lighting wthin. Ma Young-beom, 52, one of the Korea's top interior designers, was put in charge of the overall arrangement of the exhibition.
At the exhibition there will be Kang Byeong-in, a well known Hangeul-calligrapher who designed many TV drama titles in the Hangeul section; Jeonju Bibimbap Co., Ltd in the Hansik section; Korea Royal Costume Research Institute and modern Hanbok brand “Dolsilnai” in the Hanbok sections, along with many other local companies.
For the Hanok section, the Korea National Housing Corporation is to display models of Korea's first Hanok-style apartment. And in the Hanji section Chunyang Paper Co., Ltd will present environment-friendly wallpaper that prevents sick house syndrome. The Korean traditional music ensemble team Arayun will perform in the Hanguk Eumak section with piri (Korean flute), haegeum (two-string fiddle) and other traditional instruments.
At the same time as the exhibition there will be seminars on how best to globalize Korean dishes or modernize Hanok architecture, among other themes.
The expo is made up of an industrial exhibition, a theme pavilion, an experience zone and a stage for events. Students can also visit and take part in hands-on programs like decorating a hand mirror with Hanji, making a traditional lantern, mini perfume pouch, sewing needle cushion and sampling a giant bowl of Jeonju bibimbap.
The exhibition is co-sponsored by the Ministries of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; and Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs.
For more information visit: Korea Style Expo 2009
Show latest news, more from July 2009.
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