Welcome to the page about Jung Il-woo’s mom.
Her name is Sim Yeon-ok. She is a professor of the Department of Traditional Arts and Crafts at Korea National University of Cultural Heritage. She is an expert of Ancient Korean fabrics and researches how they were made.
This page has now grown I bit since I started it, so in order to keep it organized by date, I will updating new events about her life on top.
Update July 3, 2020
Mrs. Sim yeon-ok is featured in the The Korea Times. This is an excerpt of the article:
By Kwon Mee-yoo
 |
| Sim Yeon-ok, professor at the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage |
Embroidery has a long history. The craft in Korea has evolved alongside textiles for over 2,000 years, reflecting cultural identity across historical eras and blurring the boundaries between art and technique.
Sim Yeon-ok, a professor at the Department of Traditional Arts and Crafts at the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage, published her third book “2,000 Years of Korean Embroidery” last month to shed light on the lesser-known mastery of Korean embroidery.
While previous research on Korean embroidery focused on aesthetics, Sim, as a textile engineer, looked at embroidered works through a microscope to examine their details and structure. Sim said her former professor Min Gil-ja, a pioneer in Korean textile research, inspired her to delve into the field.
“Fiber and textiles should be understood and researched from an engineering perspective, as structural design is inseparable from the creation of fabric. Most of Korea’s clothing history was studied by historians and domestic science majors, who did not have much knowledge of engineering,” Sim said. “Professor Min encouraged me to study in China as understanding Chinese textiles was essential for studying Korean textiles considering the exchange between the East Asian countries.”
Sim went to the China Textile University in Shanghai, now Donghua University, in 1992, right after diplomatic ties between China and Korea were established. “I am one of the first South Korean doctoral students in China,” Sim said.
You can read the whole article HERE.
These are some of the photos of the embroidery featured in her book. It is amazing how they added tridimensionality!
Update May 30, 2020
Jung Il woo’s mom has a new book! It is called “2000 years of Korean Embroidery.” Ilwoo posted about it earlier today (well in Korea it was yesterday!). This was his post:
He wrote in English: “2,000 Years of Korean Embroidery”-My mom’s masterpiece on Korean embroidery, worthy of huge respect.
If you want to see a bit of the book go HERE. Thank you to IG ytjiw0909 for the information on where to search for it! I wish her great success with it. It would be nice if they featured her in Koreana Magazine again! I love that magazine!
Here are a few screen shots of the book:
I also discovered that she was in here in the US in February of this year! She took part in a Symposium about Korean Buddhist Images and Dedication Practice in Washington DC! You can read about the program HERE. WOOw!
This is her resume… she is an expert in her field!
Yes, this means that she speaks Chinese too! (She speaks English very well too.)
Update: March 8, 2017
They look so sweet!
Original Page text:
I found a great article from a magazine called Koreana, where she has researched about the use of gold weaved into cloth.This is a photo from that article. Photo Cr. Ahn Hong-beom for Koreana Magazine.
Koreana Winter 2016 “Guardian of Heritage”
This is a loom recreated by the research team at the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage to weave gold thread into textiles: Cr. Cultural Heritage Administration. Wow!!!
Korea Joongang Daily Feb 17, 2015
Look how gorgeous she looks in the next photo. That Hanbok…so delicate! Photo Cr. Kenterin Think Korea.
Kenterin Think Korea “Stitching together a lost tradition”
The logo of the Korea National University of Cultural Heritage where she works has a great design! I love it! Had to post it!
Curious to know more about this University? Click below:
Korea National University of Cultural Heritage
And Profesor Sim Yeon-ok has a book published on 2002 about Korean Textiles:
This is the book excerpt:
Seoul: Institute for Studies of Ancient Textiles. 2002. Hardcover. Institute for Studies of Ancient Textiles publication illustrated with 348 color plates, 14 black and white photographs, 130 color figures and 118 black and white figures. Includes a section on Korean rugs. “This is the first comprehensive historical survey, illustrated almost entirely in color, of technical developments of Korean textiles in a vast view of the chronological range with visual delight. The book begins with the historical survey and traditional techniques of Korean textiles in 4 sections. In Chapter II, Korean textiles are classified into 12 sections on the basis of weave structures. In Chapter III, the various methods of Printing and Dyeing technologies are discussed throughout history.” 334 pp.
Mrs. Sim has supported her son throughout his career. Here is one of those instances:
In 2004, she made the fabric of one of the Hanboks he wore in ‘The Night Watchman’s Journal.” It is probably the most beautiful Hanbok he has ever worn. It simply looks perfect on him!
He looks so stunning in it:
WITAT
Well, she’s beyond the ok in her name for sure. Jung II-woo’s mom is great! No wonder why Jung II-woo came out so good! It will be delightful to see who wins this lovely’s man’s heart and his mom’s! Thank you so much for giving us Il-woo Mrs. Sim Yeon-ok!! I wish you a very Happy Mother’s Day!
También quiero enviar la mas hermosa energía a todas las madres en Venezuela que están sufriendo la perdida de sus hijos, y que se preocupan cada día por conseguir algo de comida. Fuerza y fé!
And last but not least… to all the mothers in this world… you are the driving force of humanity… your day is everyday!