Foreign delegates and visitors attending a UNESCO committee meeting in South Korea will have the chance to see master artisans create the traditional Korean hat known as “gat.” This hat is famously worn by Saja Boys, the idol boy group in the popular animated film “KPop Demon Hunters.” The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) will host a public showcase of various Korean traditional skills, including gat-making, at the BEXCO convention center in Busan from July 20 to July 29.
The event, titled “Living Heritage X ICH,” is aimed at introducing foreign delegates and visitors to various traditional skills that represent South Korea’s intangible cultural heritage. Recognized masters of these skills will demonstrate their crafts during the showcase co-organized by the Korea Heritage Agency. Artisans specializing in gat-making, embroidery, and traditional sewing will lead demonstrations from July 20-22.
Visitors will have the opportunity to observe techniques such as mother-of-pearl inlay, traditional wooden furniture making, and headgear craftsmanship from July 24-26. The final days of the event will feature wood carving, bow making, wood sculpture, and metal engraving. Demonstrations will be held daily from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., within the exhibition hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hands-on programs will also be available, allowing visitors to create miniature gats, hanbok-themed key rings, and mother-of-pearl tumblers. These free sessions, lasting 90 minutes each, will run four times daily. Organizers have made registration possible for 120 participants in advance through the Korea Heritage Agency website, with additional on-site registration available for up to 365 people per day.
