K-Pop and K-Drama Followed by K-House: South Korea Pushes Hanok Globalization by Training Experts
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
South Korea is promoting traditional hanok houses as the next global K-culture export, but experts say skilled professionals are essential for modernization and overseas projects. At Jeonbuk National University’s Gochang campus, students and mid-career trainees practice woodworking and assemble hanok pavilions, reflecting growing domestic interest and rising foreign requests to build hanok in places like Algeria, Vietnam, the Philippines, Canada and the U.S. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) has trained 1,580 hanok specialists since 2011 and will continue funding programs, including a new 100-person design and construction management course supported with 300 million won. Exports generally ship prefabricated components for on-site assembly, requiring climate-specific drying and fumigation. Plans also include advanced training, awards for excellent institutions, hanok camps for youth and teachers, and a proposed hanok industry cluster combining design, material production, education and maintenance—measures to strengthen hanok competitiveness worldwide. (hanok: traditional Korean wooden house)
