Key figures from the French arts and culture scene in attendance, marking the full-scale kickoff of Korea-France cultural exchange

Gyeongsangbuk-do held the grand opening ceremony for the special Korea-France diplomatic ties 140th anniversary exhibition, "HANJIMANIA," at 7:00 PM local time on September 10 at the Hôtel de la Marine (National Heritage Museum) in Paris, France.

This special exhibition is an international cultural exchange event co-hosted by Gyeongsangbuk-do and the Hôtel de la Marine (French National Heritage Museum) and organized by the Gyeongbuk Culture Foundation Content Agency. Officially included in the "Paris Design Week" program, the exhibition runs through September 27.

The exhibition was co-curated by director Ahn Kang-eun from Korea and Catherine Ruyneau from France. Key figures from the cultural and artistic circles of both nations, including the President of the French National Heritage, attended the opening ceremony to reflect on the profound significance of bilateral cultural exchange.

The showcase features 17 craft and design works—including lighting, objects, partitions, and shelves—created through a collaboration between six French designers and eleven Korean artists, utilizing traditional Hanji raw materials from Mungyeong and Andong. Alongside these contemporary pieces, traditional Hanji raw paper is also displayed, beautifully embodying the unique light and texture of Hanji through a modern aesthetic lens.

Park Chan-woo, Director-General of the Culture, Tourism, and Sports Bureau of Gyeongsangbuk-do, stated in his opening remarks, "Hanji is a living cultural heritage that embodies a thousand years of time, and Gyeongsangbuk-do is the epicenter of traditional Hanji in South Korea where traditional papermaking techniques are most purely preserved, centered around Andong and Mungyeong. We hope this exhibition serves as a meaningful opportunity to share the universal value of Hanji with the world through the encounter of traditional Korean crafts and French design."

Marie Lavandier, President of the French National Heritage, extended her congratulations, noting, "This is the first time contemporary works are being exhibited at the Hôtel de la Marine. I hope that artists from both countries will meet through the medium of Hanji to deepen their artistic and cultural exchanges, leading toward its upcoming inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list."

At the exhibition venue, visitors experienced the screening of the National Heritage Administration’s documentary "Hanji, Paper That Withstands a Thousand Years," alongside an interactive "Hanji Scent" experience program hosted by IFF. Furthermore, Gyeongsangbuk-do plans to build cooperative networks with the Korean Cultural Center in France and the Korean Delegation to UNESCO during the exhibition period. A "Korea-France Hanji Roundtable Talk" is also scheduled to share the cultural value of Hanji and discuss international cooperation measures.

Meanwhile, this special exhibition is expected to serve as a crucial momentum to promote the global value of Hanji and broaden international consensus ahead of the anticipated UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage inscription announcement scheduled for December.

Additional Background & Context on Hanji and Global Exchange

To understand the broader significance of the "HANJIMANIA" exhibition, it is essential to look at the unique scientific and artistic properties of Hanji, traditional Korean mulberry paper. Made from the inner bark of the paper mulberry tree (mulberry shoots) combined with vegetable mucilage from the root of the Abelmoschus manihot (amul), Hanji is renowned for its extraordinary durability. Often referred to as "paper that lasts a thousand years," historical records and restored artifacts demonstrate that Hanji can endure centuries while resisting moisture, decay, and degradation better than many Western papers. This remarkable longevity has made it a preferred material not only for traditional Korean calligraphy and sliding doors (changhoji) but also for the conservation and restoration of historical European artwork and documents in museums like the Louvre and the Vatican.

The timing of this Paris exhibition is particularly strategic. The Republic of Korea has been actively pursuing the inscription of traditional Hanji-making skills and its cultural knowledge (Jangji-jang) on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. By showcasing Hanji at the Hôtel de la Marine during Paris Design Week—one of the world's premier design events—Gyeongsangbuk-do bridges ancient heritage with cutting-edge contemporary design. The collaboration with French designers demonstrates that Hanji is not merely a historical artifact frozen in time, but a versatile, sustainable, and eco-friendly material for modern architecture, interior design, and haute couture. As international art communities increasingly prioritize sustainable materials and traditional craftsmanship, events like "HANJIMANIA" provide a vital diplomatic and cultural platform to cement Hanji's status as a global artistic treasure.