The Korean Cultural Center in Italy recently welcomed Professor Seung-Chul Lee from Dongduk Women's University for an intensive series of workshops dedicated to the traditional art of Hanji paper dyeing. The renowned painting professor and Hanji dyeing expert conducted educational sessions from July 21st through 29th, sharing his specialized knowledge with Italian restoration professionals and art students.

Hanji, Korea's traditional handmade paper, has gained international recognition as one of the most suitable materials for the restoration of archival documents and artwork due to its durability and unique properties. Professor Lee's workshops focused specifically on the intricate dyeing processes that give Hanji its distinctive characteristics, providing participants with hands-on experience in these traditional techniques that have been passed down through generations.

The educational program took place at three prestigious Italian cultural institutions, demonstrating the high level of international collaboration in the arts and restoration fields. The Vatican Museums, renowned for housing some of the world's most important artistic treasures, served as one of the primary venues for these specialized workshops. Additionally, sessions were held at the Fedrigoni Foundation in Fabriano, a city with deep historical connections to papermaking, and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, where art students could directly benefit from this unique cross-cultural educational opportunity.

The Korean Cultural Center expressed sincere gratitude to all participating institutions for their valuable collaboration in making these workshops possible. This cultural exchange program represents a significant step in promoting Korean traditional arts internationally while providing Italian restoration professionals with access to specialized knowledge that could enhance their conservation work. The workshops not only preserved and transmitted traditional Korean techniques but also fostered deeper cultural understanding between Korea and Italy in the field of artistic preservation and restoration.