Why handmade Korean paper, called hanji, is so expensive
Hanji is traditional Korean paper made by hand one sheet at a time. Artisans turn the weblike fibers of paper mulberry trees into paper that can last more than a thousand years. The most expensive hanji costs over $20 per sheet. But despite hanji's quality, demand is in decline. And profits are dwindling for the few workshops left.
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00:00 This swampy mush is about to become some of the world's most expensive paper.
00:10 At first, hanji is barely visible, and once it emerges from this bath, it's delicate.
00:18 But after it dries, Korean paper can last thousands of years.
00:24 The most expensive version of a single sheet this size costs over $22.
00:31 So what makes hanji so long-lasting?
00:34 And why is it so expensive?
00:41 Kang Kapsuk has been making hanji for 45 years.
00:49 The fibers he's washing were once the bark of a paper mulberry tree.
01:03 Hanji is a versatile material that's prized within Korea.
01:08 Today it's used for everything from calligraphy to clothing.
01:13 And because of its strength, institutions like the Library of Congress and the Louvre
01:18 have used hanji to restore centuries-old books.
01:23 The secret to its strength are these long, web-like fibers and the traditional method
01:28 of sheet forming.
01:31 After boiling, bleaching, and painstakingly cleaning each fiber, it's time to head inside.
01:43 Kang uses this machine to transform the tough fibers into a mushy pulp.
02:01 Now it's time to turn pulp into paper.
02:11 Fibers flow across the bamboo frame and settle into transparent layers, almost invisible
02:17 to the naked eye.
02:19 But Kang sees what we can't.
02:23 He knows the exact moment when a sheet is fully formed.
02:27 After decades of papermaking, he's able to produce 350 sheets per day.
02:34 The amount of fibers on a sheet and their direction determines the strength of the paper.
02:41 Moving the frame in one direction aligns the grain.
02:45 But the most expensive paper is made by agitating the fibers in multiple directions.
02:52 This is slower, but it evenly distributes the fibers, yielding stronger paper.
02:58 Each weight of paper requires a different amount of pulp, and Kang's experience is
03:03 the key to getting good results.
03:13 Careful sheet forming is important because the fiber structure determines how a paper
03:18 holds up over time, especially if it's being folded.
03:22 Kang says this process can take four years to learn.
03:27 And he has to be careful, because at this stage, hanji is still delicate.
03:40 He uses an automated pump to speed up the process, but it still requires close attention.
03:57 Despite hanji's versatility, the ingredients are simple - water, fiber, and glue.
04:05 Premium conservation-grade hanji uses a natural glue made from hibiscus root, which disperses
04:12 the fibers across a sheet.
04:14 This type of hanji has a neutral pH, which is one of the requirements to be classified
04:20 as permanent paper, and it's ideal for restoring old documents.
04:25 In fact, one study found that hanji aged two to three times slower than paper from medieval
04:32 Europe.
04:33 For less expensive hanji, Kang uses a chemical glue.
04:39 While Kang immerses himself in flowing water, the other side of the workshop is dedicated
04:45 to drying the freshly formed sheets.
04:49 Yoon Chung-ae tears the crisp, clean hanji off a hot plate set to 88 degrees Celsius.
04:56 She's been working with hanji for 40 years.
05:00 She
05:27 dries paper used for conservation at a lower temperature, around 40 to 50 degrees.
05:38 After a lifetime of working with hanji, this process has become muscle memory.
05:44 Her horsehair brush is an extension of her hand, used to smooth out hanji without scratching
05:51 it.
06:01 This workshop used to be bustling with dozens of employees, but Kang says he's had to downsize
06:08 as demand has decreased.
06:24 Artisans sell the most expensive hanji to institutions and museums that use it for conservation,
06:29 like repairing pages in books or even fixing sculptures.
06:34 But Kang says demand for this type of hanji isn't that high.
06:39 It's also more expensive and labor-intensive to make, since he must beat the fibers by
06:44 hand instead of pulverizing them in this machine.
06:49 In Korea, hanji has been used for over a thousand years, but in the West, conservationists often
06:55 train on washi paper from Japan.
06:58 And while some Western institutions have recognized hanji's quality, widespread use abroad isn't
07:05 common.
07:06 Kang says he's stopped exporting hanji and only sells domestically.
07:12 In recent years, the South Korean government has started initiatives to increase demand
07:17 for hanji, but it will take time before artisans feel the benefits of these programs.
07:27 Despite hanji's uncertain future, artisans like Kang
07:57 continue to maintain this ancient craft.
08:00 And many are working tirelessly to bring new uses and awareness, hopeful that the hanji
08:06 industry can last as long as the paper itself.
08:09 [Music]