KSI Berlin Hosts Hangeul Calligraphy
Workshop with Venerable Byeong-o

> Attended by over 30 participants, including Berlin residents, university students, and KSI learners

> Provided an opportunity to experience the artistry of Korean traditional calligraphy and the spirit of Zen

On June 28, the Hangeul Calligraphy Workshop with Venerable Byeong-o – The Tip of the Brush of the Heart, Writing the Beauty of Zen was successfully held at the Institute of Korean Studies, Free University of Berlin. Organized by KSI Berlin, the workshop welcomed more than 30 participants, including Berlin residents, students from the Free University of Berlin, and learners from KSI Berlin.
 
 

The workshop was designed to provide an opportunity to experience Korean traditional culture while promoting KSI’s educational activities and identity to a wider audience. Through Korean calligraphy, participants were able to appreciate not only the visual beauty of the Korean alphabet but also the spirit of Zen and the artistic depth it embodies.
 
 

Venerable Byeong-o expressing participants’
chosen words in calligraphy imbued
with philosophical meaning Venerable Byeong-o taking a commemorative
photo with participants after the calligraphy
session

Currently residing in Berlin, Venerable Byeong-o, a Buddhist monk and calligrapher, introduced participants to the philosophical background and expressive techniques of Hangeul calligraphy, based on his belief that “calligraphy is a form of spiritual practice that disciplines the mind.” Participants shared with him the words or meanings they wished to convey, and he, using traditional hanji paper, brushes, ink, and colorful seal stamps, carefully wrote words such as “rest,” “emptiness,” and “peace” as gifts. These completed works left a deep impression on the participants.
 
 

The event also featured an exhibition of Venerable Byeong-o’s calligraphy works, seals, and colored seal stamps, offering attendees not only a hands-on experience but also the opportunity to appreciate calligraphy as an art form. The workshop naturally extended into the outdoor space known as the “Pavilion (Shelter of Wisdom),” where, guided by KSI learners dressed in traditional hanbok, participants engaged in open conversations, viewed artworks, and enjoyed light refreshments.

Toward the end of the program, a discussion and Q&A session on calligraphy and Korean culture provided a space for further cultural exchange and dialogue. Sara, a learner at KSI Berlin who attended the workshop, shared her impression, saying, “I was moved to see that Hangeul can be expressed in such an artistic form.” Another learner, Lilly, said, “Each letter written on hanji paper calmed my mind,” describing the positive feelings that calligraphy brought her.

The workshop was evaluated as a successful event that conveyed the aesthetic value of Korean culture through art and helped local German students and citizens take a step closer to the Korean language and traditional Korean arts. KSI Berlin plans to continue expanding cultural connections between Korean language learners and local residents through diverse Korean cultural programs.

Article by Byeon Gye-won, Correspondent at KSI Berlin