| Title | Korea’s Chopstick Culture Impressed the Whole World |
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| Writer | Culture & Arts Team, Culture & Arts Division |
| Subject |
- ‘K-Chopsticks Special Exhibition’ will be held for two months from the 25th at Korean Cultural Center in Thailand –
Korea’s chopstick culture impresses many people in Thailand. Korean Cultural Center in Thailand (Gang Eun-a, the head of Korean Cultural Center) and Cheongju City (Mayor Lee Sung Hun) held an opening ceremony of the special exhibition on chopsticks with the theme ‘K-Chopsticks’, at the exhibition room in Korean Cultural Center in Bangkok, Thailand on the 25th. The special exhibition will run until 23rd of June. At the opening ceremony, more than 300 people participated including Ambassador Noh Kwang-il, at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Thailand, Gang Eun-a, the head of Korean Cultural Center in Thailand, and Cheongju City Deputy Mayor Lee Beom-seok. In particular, many officials related to the culture from various embassies in Thailand, including embassies of Japan, UK and France, and SACICT, which represents Thailand, participated and showed great interest in Korea’s chopstick culture. The opening ceremony was started by Samulnori performance and chopstick performance by Ullim, a representative performance team of Cheongju, followed by many other events including exhibition, demonstration, and hands-on experiences on major works. In the special exhibition, more than 200 pieces related to chopsticks including Korea’s ancient spoon and chopstick relics, cultural chopstick commodities and creative pieces, and famous chopstick artworks by the craftsmen of Cheongju City, as well as video clips were displayed in the form of storytelling. 20 pieces of spoon and chopstick relics from Goryeo, Joseon and modern times were displayed in chronological order. Korea’s rice culture was introduced as well. For the chopstick cultural commodities, more than 100 pieces of chopstick commodities, which Cheongju City has been developing since last year, were introduced. Artist Kim Seong-ho’s lacquer spoon and chopsticks, Lee Jong Guk’s Chinese Pepper Tree Chopsticks, Lee So Ra’s spoon and chopsticks case, Park Sang-tae’s Yugi (brassware) spoon and chopsticks, SuHye and Jung Jae-hong’s metallic spoons and chopsticks were displayed. In addition, professors of Cheongju University’s Department of Craft & Design, Lee Gyu-nam (metal), Kim Jun Yong (glass), Yun Sang-hui (lacquer)’s art commodities and students’ cultural commodities were displayed as well. Intelligent chopsticks made by Raon Co., Ltd. for children were also displayed. Craftsmen’s artworks were also very popular among the visitors. Traditional brush by Yu Pil-mu, quilt by Lee So Ra, Korean traditional pole by Jo Byeong-muk, art pottery set by Son Bunam, and white porcelain set by Kim Jang-eui reflect the essence of Korean craftsmanship. Performances by artists including Lee Jong Guk’s chopstick making process, Ha Myeong-seok’s sculpting wooden Buddha, and Nakhwajang (pyrography) Kim Yeong-jo’s drawing a picture on the paper using iron impressed many Thai people. Korean Cultural Center recruited participants in advance through the website, and it was so popular that all tickets were reserved within a day. Chopsticks are shared cultural aspect that has been used for more than 2,000 years by the 3 countries Korea, Japan, and China eating rice as their main staple. Chopsticks have been at the center of carious culture and content, including food, table manners, and beating (performances). Korea, in particular, always uses spoon and chopsticks as a pair, and unlike China and Japan, where they use wooden chopsticks, Korea uses metal spoons and chopsticks. Unlike wooden chopsticks that are long and easy to use, metal chopsticks are thin and slippery so it requires high concentration when using them. Due to this reason, using chopsticks have been known to be good at brain development, and it is not an exaggeration to say that Korea’s excellency in many fields, including IT, automobile, shipbuilding, medical, shooting, and archery is based on its chopsticks culture. Unlike Korea, Japan and China, Thailand eats food not only with chopsticks, but also with hands or fork and knife, and thus the country has high interests in Korea’s chopsticks content. Cheongju City’s Deputy Mayor Lee said, “This exhibition under the theme of chopsticks might be the first to be held in a country which does not use chopsticks,” and added, “I am certain that chopsticks are not just a too, but have great potential as global cultural content that can represent Korea and Cheongju City.” Kang Eun-a, the head of Korean Cultural Center in Thailand said, “Since the opening of Korean Cultural Center in 2013, we have been supporting various cultural products of Korea including traditional crafts and performances. This chopsticks special exhibition is even more popular than the previous events. If we develop chopsticks content further, then we can start many other businesses in the world, such as Europe, Russia, and the USA.” ▶ Inquiries: Culture & Arts Team, Culture & Arts Division (☎043-201-2014) Content Promotion Department of Cheongju Cultural Industry Promotion Foundation (☎043-219-1212) |
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