Wonju Hanji Theme Park

Fifteen workshops, then two

In 1991, Wonju still counted 15 hanji-making factories around Dangu-dong. Only two traditional factories later remained near Usan-dong. Hanji once supplied ordinary Korean life before mass-produced wood-pulp paper took much of its market

The losses were not caused by a lack of raw material. Wonju's mulberry trees, or dak, grew around the district; even local place names preserve the character for mulberry. Water helped artisans clean the beaten fibres, and generations of workers made tough sheets by hand. In 1973 the local hanji industry formed an association; in 1975 Wonju paper was exported to Japan. Yet by the end of the century paper made cheaply on industrial machines was replacing traditional handmade sheets

A history room and the things paper becomes

Wonju Hanji Theme Park was built to hold the craft's surviving knowledge where people could use it. The ground floor of the main building has a Hanji History Room tracing the raw mulberry fibre through sheet making, together with an experience room, art shop and small library. Upstairs is an exhibition hall for contemporary paper arts, plus a meeting room. Outside, a park gives craft festivals and public programmes space beyond the walls

Short craft activities have included hand mirrors, jewellery boxes and paper figures, with some available to visitors paying on site. These differ from scheduled one-day classes with visiting makers, which require advance registration; even paper-sheet making may follow a narrower timetable

The outdoor space becomes particularly useful when the annual Wonju Hanji Culture Festival holds its exhibitions and public events. A 1999 local festival grew into a long-running organising force; the permanent park opened in September 2010 as the year-round counterpart. The paper made inside the main building and the installations shown upstairs belong to the same effort to keep the technique relevant after most commercial workshops disappeared

The expansion that did not happen

The park was once expected to grow beyond its original main building. Plans for an additional exhibition and experience building were cancelled before construction. Instead, the existing structure underwent refurbishment in 2024. After the refurbishment, the programme remained in one building beside the outdoor grounds, not a string of separate museums

The first-floor history room is free, as are most upstairs exhibitions, although some temporary shows charge admission. Hands-on craft workshops have separate fees

Before you go

The park stands at 151 Hanjigongwon-gil in Wonju's Musil area, with the main indoor galleries next to an outdoor performance space. Opening hours are 09:00–18:00 except Mondays and designated major holidays. The art shop and experience room pause from noon to 13:00, while the regular exhibitions remain available

The Wonju circular city-tour bus has included Hanji Theme Park on its route, linking it to Wonju Station and the intercity bus terminal; check its current stop list and limited departure times before relying on it. A local stop named Hanji Theme Park (Hanjitemagongwon) is also near the grounds. If connections do not fit, a taxi to the Korean address is a straightforward alternative. The venue has described wheelchairs available to visitors with mobility needs, but a specific class's accessibility should be checked before reserving