Korean Beauty Visual Expressions of a Timeless Spirit

There may be countless idioms about beauty in languages around the world, but to actually define beauty and how it is expressed by an entire culture is a formidable task. Fortunately for readers, Korean Beauty: Visual Expressions of a Timeless Spirit approaches the subject with an engaging, deeply enriching account of what has long constituted core elements of Korean beauty, from the philosophical and spiritual currents that run through the concept all the way to the artistic practicality of how this is carried out on a daily basis. 

Uniquely Korean Expressions of Beauty 

With a mixture of personal stories by someone who has traveled extensively around the country and fascinating insights about an aesthetic heritage developed over thousands of years, long-time Korea commentator and author Robert Koehler takes readers on a memorable trip into a land of breathtaking elegance and refinement that has influenced generation after generation of Koreans and the way they express beauty. As is clearly evident to anyone familiar with the country and its people, this sense of beauty can be generally characterized in terms such as grace, simplicity, rustic charm, and respect for nature. Of course, this ethereal sense of beauty and its functional application to day-to-day living goes far deeper than those broadly defined descriptions. 

Beauty in Imperfection 

Today, visitors to Korea will be quick to point out the polished beauty of everyday objects that can be purchased at both souvenir stands and high-end galleries, including bowls and plates, chopsticks and spoons, glassware and ceramics, and jokja (hanging scrolls featuring artwork and/or calligraphy) and sansuhwa (landscape paintings). And yet look below the surface and you will notice a uniquely Korean “artless art,” an ability to make difficult designs appear easy to create and a tendency to value the perfectly imperfect. This is even apparent in the largest of artistic productions, including Korea’s royal edifices like Gyeongbokgung Palace, Buddhist sanctuaries such as Gaesimsa Temple, and the traditional Korean homes (hanok) and their accompanying courtyards (madang) of Bukchon Hanok Village. 

A Timeless Odyssey of Art and Beauty 

Embark on a magical journey through the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites of Byeongsanseowon Confucian Academy and Changdeokgung Palace, marvel at age-old ramie weaving techniques in Hansan and the sublime works of Goryeo celadon from a thousand years ago, and indulge in Korea’s distinct palette of “five direction colors” through its obangsaek—no matter where you go within the country, Korea’s rich aesthetic is all around you at every step of the way. 

Something for Everyone

From the Buddhist and Taoist notion that there is great beauty in emptiness, to the extravagant visual appeal of modern hanbok and Korean accessories and boudoir crafts, to the fascinating method behind how Dansaekhwa monochrome paintings are created, Korea has practiced its own way of celebrating beauty for millennia. For those who have already started learning about Korea through its Hallyu-led movies, music, and television shows, Korean Beauty: Visual Expressions of a Timeless Spirit will only galvanize you to further your learning about the country and its profound, one-of-a-kind aesthetic. And for those just starting their odyssey down the road of Korean beauty, this book will inspire you to see more of the awe-inspiring splendor evident in this 5,000-year-old nation by experiencing Korea’s timeless spirit for yourself. 

About the Author 

Robert Koehler was born and raised in Long Island, New York, and graduated from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Washington, D.C. He came to Korea in 1997. From 2006 to 2018, he served as editor-in-chief of SEOUL, a monthly lifestyle and travel magazine. In 2009, he published the more than 400-page English-language guidebook SEOUL, and in 2010, he received the “Foreign Journalist Award for Contributions to Seoul Tourism” at the Seoul International Tourism Fair. He currently works as an English editor at the Korea JoongAng Daily. 

About the Photographer

Lee Jongkeun graduated from Chung-Ang University’s Department of Photography and the graduate school of the same university. He runs a photo and video production company called GuruVisual Co., Ltd., and also teaches advertising photography at his alma mater. He has long been actively engaged in product, architecture, and food photography, and has worked on many familiar advertising campaigns as a photographer. Architecture books that capture his vision include Korea Style, Hanok: The Korean House, and Hanok Today.

Contents

Introduction • 9 

1. Korean Aesthetics Standards of the past • 16 Harmony between humans and nature • 16 Rustic simplicity • 26 

2. Different Notions of Korean and Western Beauty Realism vs. true spirit • 38 Realistic vs. idealized worlds • 42 Grandeur vs. harmony • 45 

3. The Beauty of Emptiness Humanism • 61 Humor • 64 Preserving age-old aesthetic techniques • 69 More globalized tastes • 74 

4. Korean Gyubang Crafts The aesthetic of the slow • 82 Making it look simple • 84 Useful but exquisite • 86 Embroidery arts • 94 A magnificent folding screen • 100 A lavish robe • 102 

5. Traditional Korean Architecture Harmony with nature • 108 Tying it all together through the madang • 114 Rustic charm • 118 The borrowed landscape • 122 

6. Hanbok An outfit steeped in history • 132 The beauty of modesty • 133 Generosity, emptiness, nature • 136 Color contrasts • 139 Fabrics of nature • 142 A modern touch • 145 

7. The Visual Arts An idealized world: The Korean landscape painting • 148 Celadon: Beauty in greenish blue • 159 Porcelain (non) perfection: The moon jar • 162 Dansaekhwa: Korean minimalism meets modern art • 165 Korean handicrafts: Form equals function • 170 Folk art: Beauty for the masses • 179 

8. Korean Accessories Norigae • 184 Beoseon • 190 Flower shoes • 194 Traditional Korean hats for men • 198 

9. The Korean World of Color Obangsaek: The five colors of the cosmos • 208 Korean palaces: A sea of red • 210 Korea’s colorful cuisine • 214 Korean wedding attire • 217 The Korean flag: A nation of harmony • 218 Dancheong • 220 

Epilogue • 226