Kim Hye-kyung Meets Foreign Influencers: "I Hope More People Can Experience Our Crafts Firsthand"

Making Norigae with Foreign Honorary Reporters and Influencers
Participants Offer Ideas to Globalize Crafts,
Including Modern Accessories and Experience Kits

On July 20, Kim Hye-kyung met with honorary foreign reporters and influencers, personally experiencing Korean traditional crafts. She emphasized the need to expand related hands-on opportunities so that more people, including young people and foreigners, can encounter Korean crafts in their daily lives.

Kim Hye Kyung is giving a greeting at a Korean traditional craft Norigae making experience event with foreign young people held at the Sarangchae of Mugyewon in Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on July 20, 2026. Photo by Cheongwadae Communication Photojournalist Group Yonhap News

In the afternoon, at Mugyewon in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Kim attended the Korean traditional craft experience event "The Story of Norigae That Connects Korean Tradition," where she made norigae together with Korea.net honorary reporters and foreign influencers.

This event was organized to offer foreign attendees—who promote Korea around the world—a chance to directly craft norigae, a representative ornament of traditional attire, to experience the charm of Korean craft culture and explore avenues for globalizing traditional crafts.

Before the hands-on session, Kim viewed traditional accessories such as norigae and binyeo, as well as hanbok, and listened to explanations about the symbolism of these ornaments and the techniques used by artisans. She greeted attendees by saying, "It is a great pleasure and privilege to meet you, who share the charm of Korea with people all over the world. Norigae is a precious traditional Korean craft imbued with wishes for health, peace, and happiness." She added, "I hope this will be a meaningful opportunity to experience the beauty and value of our culture, by feeling firsthand the significance and care contained in each small ornament."

Kim and the participants completed their own norigae, each expressing their personalities using various charms and beads. During the process, Kim shared a conversation with participants, remarking, "As I focused on making it, I found myself forgetting about worries and concerns for a while."

After the crafting session, participants freely exchanged ideas on how to adapt traditional crafts for modern use and effectively promote them overseas. Sara Okelly, an honorary Korea.net reporter from Egypt, suggested reinventing norigae as necklaces, earrings, or car accessories, and launching a DIY kit so foreigners can easily experience making them. Laura Mai Schultz, an influencer from Estonia, proposed adding fragrances to norigae as an idea.

Pascal Fewesdorf, an honorary Korea.net reporter from Germany, proposed a traditional cooking experience using Joseon Dynasty kitchenware, while influencer Dippali from India recommended a program that lets foreigners experience traditional culture in thatched-roof houses, which are hard to access for non-Koreans. In response, Kim said, "I have always been interested in cooking, so that sounds like great fun. Thank you for sharing so many wonderful ideas."

Tasmiya Ahmed Duti, an honorary Korea.net reporter from Bangladesh who is currently studying in Jeollanam-do, suggested that foreigners living in regions outside the capital should also be given more opportunities to experience traditional culture.

Kim stated, "By making it myself, I could better appreciate the delicate beauty of our crafts and the dedication of our artisans. With the recent surge in demand for traditional craft experiences among foreign tourists, I hope that even more people, including young people and foreigners, will be able to directly experience our crafts." She continued, "I will continue to show my interest and support so that the efforts of those who have preserved Korea's traditional crafts are more widely known and loved."

On July 20, Kim Hye-kyung held a commemorative photo with foreign youths, holding a Korean traditional craft norigae she made herself at Mugyewon Sarangchae in Buam-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. 2026.7.20 [Photo by Cheongwadae Press Photographers Group] Yonhap News

Meanwhile, the government announced that, based on the "2nd Master Plan for Promotion of Craft Culture Industry" released last month on June 30, it will support the entire industry cycle—including creation, distribution, and overseas expansion of crafts—through 2030. To coincide with the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, "2026 Korean Craft Exhibition Welcome" is also being held in Busan until July 30.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.