Joomchi Craft

In this 180-minute class, you’ll explore joomchi in depth: the traditional Korean technique of wetting hanji, then rubbing and kneading it by hand until it takes on a leather-like texture.

With no glue or adhesives, only water and the movement of your hands, the long natural fibers of hanji bind together into a stronger, richly textured new paper.

Over three hours, you’ll make 3 to 4 sheets of joomchi, each with a different hanji and technique. This class is ideal if you want to take your time and truly explore joomchi itself.

[What You’ll Do]

1. Tea Time & Hanji Story (10 min)

Sit down with a cup of tea and hear the story of hanji: how it is made, what it is made from, how it has been used through the centuries, and how it lives on today. Touch it with your own hands and feel the strength of mulberry fiber, the very reason joomchi is possible.

2. Choose Your Hanji & Colors (10 min)

See the hanji you can work with, then choose the colors that speak to you. Dyed hanji may bleed slightly during the process, and this soft color transfer is part of joomchi’s charm.

3. Make Your First Joomchi (40 min)

Wet the hanji, then rub and knead it by hand to learn the basic joomchi technique. As you complete your first sheet, you’ll get a feel for the right amount of water, the pressure of your hands, and how hanji responds.

4. Contemporary Joomchi & Planning (20 min)

Look at how contemporary artists make and use joomchi, then plan together how you’d like to use the sheets you make.

5. Explore More Joomchi (70 min)

Following the direction you planned, make two or three more sheets using different hanji and techniques. Each one will have its own character. No experience is needed, as you’ll be guided through every step.

6. Final Drying (15 min)

Relax with a cup of tea while your joomchi dries. The first sheet you made will be completely dry by the end of class and ready to take home. Sheets made later need more time to dry, so please take them home and let them dry fully.

7. Photos & Wrap-up (15 min)

Take photos with your finished joomchi in the hanok, and end the class on a relaxed note.

[Choosing Between Classes]

If you’d rather focus on turning ready-made joomchi into an object, such as a notebook cover, we recommend our 2-hour Joomchi Object Class.

• checkAll materials and tools
• checkGuidance from an expert instructor
• checkSnacks and tea or coffee

• closeTransportation and pickup
• closeMeals
• closeAdditional crafts (available for purchase on-site)

You may reschedule once, free of charge, up to 3 days before your booking. The class takes place at Bukchon Hanji Studio, 2F, 18 Bukchon-ro 11-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul.