[Naver Interview] “I Created the Cheonggyecheon Festival of Lights”

Hanji Lighting Researcher and Artistic Director Lim Young Taek

Oversaw the production of the Seoul Lantern Festival in 2018 and 2019
Hopes to create local festivals centered on lanterns

Every November, the “Seoul Lantern Festival” lights up the Cheonggyecheon stream area in downtown Seoul. The 2019 festival, held from November 1 to 17, featured the theme of fairy tales. When visiting the site on November 12, the area was bustling with visitors despite it being a weekday. About 280 lanterns lit up the 1.2 km stretch from Cheonggye Plaza to Supyogyo Bridge.

True to its fairy tale theme, familiar characters drew the attention of visitors—ranging from Korean folktales such as The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl and Kongjwi and Patjwi, to global classics like Cinderella and Aladdin. Hidden lanterns, such as cats and dogs under bridges or pigeons peeking through gaps, added an element of discovery. We sat down with Lim Young Taek (50), the artistic director responsible for producing the lanterns displayed at the 2019 Seoul Lantern Festival.

◇ Creating Large-Scale Lanterns with Hanji

– Please introduce yourself.

“I am a hanji lighting researcher who paints pictures in the night sky. With brushes and paints on the beautiful hanji gifted by nature, I create dreams and hope for people.”

– What does it mean to be a hanji lighting researcher?

“I create large-scale lanterns using hanji and work on methods to preserve and maintain them without damage. I also strive to turn these lanterns into a cultural content that people can truly enjoy.”

– When did you begin making lanterns with hanji?

“I ran an event agency from 2006 for about 10 years. Around 2011–2012, I managed the operations of the Seoul Lantern Festival, which was renamed from its former title. That experience sparked my fascination with large lanterns. I started learning how to make them as a hobby, visiting a workshop every weekend for six years. Then in 2016, I closed my agency and began fully dedicating myself to a studio producing large lanterns.”

◇ A Six-Stage Lantern-Making Process

– What’s the production process like?

“There are six major stages. First is the framework—shaping the form using wire. If the shape warps, I tie segments with cable ties, then remove them before welding. Once the structure is done, we move to electrical work—installing bulbs and securing them. Next is ‘baejeop’, the process of attaching hanji piece by piece, like a mosaic.

“After that comes the glue layer to help the paint adhere to the hanji. Then, we paint with Korean traditional pigments, sketching lightly with pencil first. Lastly, we coat the surface. Using special coating spray or brush, we apply two or three layers. With three coats, the color can last six months to a year even in the rain.”

◇ 2019 Festival Focused on 3D Spatial Design

Lim notes that only about seven studios in Korea currently make large-scale lanterns. Through a bidding process, he was chosen to produce the 2019 Seoul Lantern Festival after also winning the bid in 2018. As the other two bidders lacked previous experience with the festival, Lim leveraged his 2011–2012 experience to lead production, lantern layout, and exhibition as artistic director.

– The 2019 festival theme was fairy tales. Why?

“I wanted something different from the usual traditional themes. In 2018, we focused on Seoul’s history and future. This time, I suggested something that both kids and adults could enjoy—fairy tales.”

– How many lanterns were made? How long did it take?

“We displayed 80 sets—about 280 lanterns. Half were newly created, and the rest were repurposed. We hired 20 people including lead artists and part-time assistants. The entire process took six months.”

– What was the biggest challenge?

“Choosing the right stories was tricky. We wanted universally loved tales, not just Korean ones, but global stories too. We consulted embassy staff and experts to decide. Then, it was about how to depict those scenes clearly and charmingly. What posture should the characters take? What moment would instantly evoke the story?”

◇ Making the Festival More Spatially Dynamic

– What did you focus on when arranging the lanterns?

“We aimed to expand beyond just the stream bed—using riverside trees, overhead space, even neon and lighting installations for more variety. For instance, in The Brother and Sister Who Became the Sun and the Moon, we had a tiger looking up while the siblings dangled from a rope above. On opening day, we even used a crane to lift them 20 meters into the air—visitors loved it.”

Also Created a Main Work for the UK’s Top Festival

In 2016, Lim produced the main installation for the Totally Thames festival in London—one of the UK's premier outdoor arts events.

– Tell us about your overseas work.

“At Totally Thames, only one artist gets to exhibit on the river each year. In 2016, media artist Kang Ik-Jung’s Floating Dreams was selected, and I was tasked with producing it. We placed hanji-made cubes on a barge to float down the river. Each cube had drawings by North Korean defectors showing their lost hometowns. We also installed child-shaped mannequins on the cubes, with help from engineer Dr. Kim Byung-Soo.

“I saw this as a perfect opportunity to introduce hanji to the world.”

Reviving the Spirit of Hanji Globally

– Hanji is often said to be in crisis. What are your thoughts?

“There used to be strong government support for traditional Han-style items—hanji, hanbok, hanok, hansik, and Korean music. But lately that support has faded. Chinese lanterns made with fabric are popular and often go on global tours with great reception. But the subtle glow of hanji is something unique. I believe Korean hanji lanterns could make a bigger impact abroad if supported by national policies.”

◇ Future Aspirations

– What’s your future goal?

“I want to create community festivals centered on lanterns—something called ‘The Village That Never Sleeps.’ I’m still considering the location, but once I decide, I plan to move my workshop there and live among the residents as I design the event together with them.”

Written by jobsN Park Ah-reum (Intern)
jobarajob@naver.com
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