Our recent program featured an engaging hands-on exploration of Korean traditional art and contemporary popular culture through the workshop Hands-On Korean Art Workshop for K–12 Educators: Minhwa Meets K-Pop. Co-hosted by the USC U.S.-China Institute and the Korean Heritage Library, the in-person session brought together K–12 educators from across Southern California to explore how Korean culture can be introduced into classrooms through both visual analysis and creative practice.
The program opened with a presentation by Sofia Kim’s studio team, who highlighted how traditional Korean symbols such as the magpie and tiger continue to appear in contemporary media. Using K-Pop Demon Hunters as an entry point, the session also introduced participants to historical imagery such as the sun, moon, and five mountain peaks, helping educators better understand the cultural meanings embedded in Korean visual traditions.
The workshop further explored how Minhwa, or Korean folk painting, can be adapted into accessible classroom activities. In the hands-on portion of the program, participants painted Minhwa-inspired tiger keychains while learning about color symbolism in Korean culture. The activity offered a practical model for connecting cultural learning with art-making in K–12 settings.
Throughout the session, educators exchanged ideas about how to incorporate Korean art, history, and culture into their teaching. One participant from Glendale Unified School District also expressed interest in bringing the activity to her school through an onsite session with Sofia’s studio team. Participants left with classroom-ready ideas for using art as a meaningful entry point into cross-cultural teaching and learning.
