By John Redmond
The Itaewon Global Village Center in Seoul invites participants to make Korean soaps using mugwort, red clay and jjok (a fermented material made from a weed called jjok-pul and powdered oyster shells) on Feb. 6.
Guests will be introduced to three traditional health remedies.
Red clay is a major component of Korean soil and is said to be good for eliminating waste from the body, improving blood circulation, overcoming fatigue and slowing aging.
Koreans enjoy mugwort in rice cakes or bean paste soup and use it when taking a bath or moxibustion. Mugwort, a well known alkaline medicinal herb for women, is rich in minerals.
Jjok, indigo in color, is a traditional cure for acne often mixed with sweet pumpkin and is a good skin moisturizer.
The Itaewon Global Village Center is in room 504 of the Hannam Building.
To get there leave Itaewon Station via exit 2. Walk straight for 200 meters, and look for the Hannam Building which has a 7-Eleven store on the first floor. The center is on the fifth floor of the building.
The class will run from 9:30-11:30 a.m. and costs 8,000 won.
Registration can be done in person or via email at itaewon@yongsan.go.kr.
For more information visit: http://global.seoul.go.kr/itaewon.