Ms. Youngja Kim, 50
Leather Craftswoman from Gwangju
How did you get started?
My friend taught me ten years ago. Previously I made baskets for 15 years for private exhibitions. It’s really hard to do that so I got interested in making leather goods.What do you make?
Almost everything, but mainly handbags. Also lampshades, rugs, pictures, belts, namecard cases...How long does it take to make one handbag?
Two days, 5-6 hours a day. If I try harder I can make it in a day. It’s hard work.What’s the basic process of making a handbag?
I draw a picture, like a design on paper. I put the paper on the leather and draw it again, then cut the leather. I carve some patterns onto the leather, then put all the pieces of leather together into the shape of a handbag. Then I drill with a punching tool to fasten everything.What are the good points?
I’m proud of my work and feel happy after creating a handbag. I can make things rather than buy it.Do you make enough money?
(laughs) It’s not for the money.How do you get enough money to live?
My husband works.Bad points?
It’s impossible to do something like this without craftsmanship. It requires hard work. It’s very physical.You must have powerful muscles.
(laughs). Yes. I’m very strong.Where did you learn from? A school?
From my friend, who learned it from others. The teacher is back in Japan. If you go to school, which has a course to learn this, you can get a certificate after a year and a half. If you learn with a teacher like I did, less than three months.What’s your dream for the future?
When I get older, I’d like to keep active, like now. I want to enter a nation-wide contest for making crafts and get a prize. The preliminaries are in Gwangju; the finals take place in Seoul.Have you ever thought about selling on the internet?
Yes, I do, but it’s in Korean. You can see all the pictures.Do your children do this?
No, not yet. If they want I’ll teach them.
the end