Jogakbo Workshop

The Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) will hold a Jogakbo Workshop on Friday, 26 September, as part of its K-Creative Sessions. This event offers UK audiences a unique opportunity to experience the beauty and cultural significance of traditional Korean patchwork, jogakbo.

Director Seunghye Sun of the KCCUK remarked, “Jogakbo is an art form where small fabric pieces come together to create a harmonious whole, embodying the essence of Korean aesthetics—where the one contains the many, and the many unite as one. This tradition is being reborn as a cultural heritage for a new era. Given the UK’s strong interest in patchwork and craft, this workshop will serve as a creative platform for cultural exchange and mutual understanding between our two traditions.”

The Jogakbo Workshop goes beyond a simple hands-on experience, offering participants a fun and engaging way to explore the creativity embedded in traditional Korean culture and history. Led by instructor Hyekyung Choi, the workshop includes captivating stories about Jogakbo and an interactive dialogue that deepens participants’ understanding of Korean cultural heritage.

Participants will learn about the symbolic significance of Jogakbo in Korean history and create their own Jogakbo pieces, reflecting on its cultural meaning. Following the activity, the completed works will be displayed, allowing participants to share and appreciate traditional culture together.

This workshop also provides a meaningful opportunity to compare Korean Jogakbo with British patchwork traditions. British patchwork, rooted in medieval practices of thrift and recycling, became popularised after the Industrial Revolution and is best known for the ‘English Paper Piecing’ technique, characterised by hexagonal patches. It emerged as a symbol of women’s communal activities during the Victorian era and evolved into an artistic expression in the 20th century. Similarly, Korean Jogakbo transforms remnant fabrics into a harmonious interplay of colour and form, creating a unique aesthetic. Both traditions share a philosophy of uniting small pieces to form a greater whole, fostering a cross-cultural dialogue.

Through its K-Creative Sessions, the KCCUK continues to promote Korean traditional culture and history to UK audiences through a variety of events. The Centre is committed to fostering closer connections with the UK public by presenting innovative programs that highlight Korean culture and inspire future cultural conversations.

For more information, please contact the Korean Cultural Centre UK.

For further press information and a selection of press images about the event, please contact Jiae Myung on info@kccuk.org.uk