KJCKorea
Journal Central

Objectives This study clarifies long-uncertain gold-thread production techniques by examining the works of Sang-su Han, National Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 80. It investigates the composition and forms of gold threads in Joseon-era artifacts and compares them with Han’s modern embroidery to illuminate the characteristics and continuity of traditional techniques. Methods This study examines traditional gold-thread manufacturing by analyzing structural and material similarities between historical and modern examples. Using p-XRF, the elemental composition of selected artifacts was identified, while a portable digital microscope revealed microstructural features such as twist angles, enabling detailed morphological and compositional comparison. Conclusions p-XRF analysis showed that Joseon-period gold threads ranged from pure gold to gold alloys with silver and copper. Microscopic observation revealed yeongeumsa in embroidery and pyeongeumsa in woven decorations. Modern and Joseon embroidery shared similar twist directions and core threads. These findings provide foundational data for future gold-thread research.

Objectives This study explores the symbolism and cultural meanings of plants in Korean song lyrics across popular songs, school music textbooks, and hymns. It examines how plant imagery reflects emotion, memory, and cultural values, and interprets these expressions through an eco-humanities perspective linking nature and the humanities. Methods A total of 3,044 songs were analyzed: 1,742 popular songs, 355 elementary, 199 middle, and 103 high school songs from textbooks, and 645 hymns. Plant names found in song titles and lyrics were identified and classified by frequency and symbolic context. Comparative and qualitative analyses were conducted to determine differences among genres. Conclusions Plant names appeared in 290 songs (9.5%), representing 136 species. The rose was the most frequent, followed by azalea, reed, lawn, willow, forsythia, and camellia. Popular songs used plants to express love and longing, textbooks reflected seasonal and educational themes, and hymns conveyed purity and faith. Overall, plants in Korean lyrics act as symbolic and emotional links between humans and nature, reflecting cultural and historical emotions. The study underscores the eco-humanities perspective, revealing how natural imagery deepens the cultural resonance of Korean music.

Objectives Korean painting after 1990 has expanded through global exchanges, transnational collaborations, digital exhibitions, and calligraphic fusion. In Vietnam, it is embraced through exhibitions, cultural diplomacy, and Korean Studies programs. The study shows that Korean painting reshapes artistic identity in global contexts while functioning as an important cultural bridge that strengthens Vietnam-Korea relations. Methods This study employs qualitative methods through document review and media content analysis. Academic literature outlines the development of Korean painting since the 1990s, while Korean and Vietnamese media sources provide empirical cases of artistic exchange. Using keywords such as “K-Art” and “hội họa Hàn Quốc,” the study integrates theoretical and real-world data to interpret the globalization of Korean painting and its reception in Vietnam. Conclusions Korean painting has transformed since the 1990s through global expansion, transnational collaboration, digital innovation, and renewed calligraphic identity. In Vietnam, it is positively received via exhibitions, education, and cultural diplomacy, serving as a key medium of cross-cultural understanding. Overall, Korean painting acts as a cultural bridge that strengthens Korea-Vietnam relations and offers insights for sustainable artistic exchange.