Pioneer of Korean art of paper folding

By Yi Whan-woo

Rho Young-hye, 67, a pioneer in promoting jongie jupgi, the Korean art of paper folding, says it can surpass the reputation of origami and also join the growing international popularity of Korean culture.

“It was Japan’s karate that became known around the world first, but Korea’s taekwondo eventually caught up and became an Olympic medal sport,” she said in a press release, Wednesday. “And I believe our jongie jupgi can also receive attention globally just like origami does.”

Rho, the chairwoman of the Korea Paper Culture Foundation and the World Jongie Jupgi Organization in Seoul, first sought to run an international campaign for the Korean art of paper folding in the late 1980s.

The organization runs 45 branches offices in 18 countries. The latest opened on Jan. 29 in Riedberg, a district in Frankfurt, Germany.

Korean terms for paper folding are used when teaching people interested in jongie jupgi at each office, according to the organization.

“By doing so, people can get familiar with jongie jupgi, Korean words and Korean culture,” the organization said.

It recently has been running a worldwide campaign to make a total of 80 million Korean conical hats using paper as part of efforts to promote world peace.

Rho said Koreans first used the conical hats made of paper as early as the ancient kingdom of Gojoseon (2333 B.C _ 108 B.C.) in line with the kingdom’s philosophy “to live and work for the benefit of all mankind.”

Rho said she has high expectations for the Riedberg office. “We hope it can play an active role in our campaign for the unification of the Korean Peninsula, and furthermore, world peace,” she said.