A Picture Book Workshop with Hyunmin Park

- Stories and Art from How to Be a True Friend

Presented by the Korean Cultural Center New York
In Partnership with the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea

Event Details

  • Saturday, September 20, 2025, 2:00–3:30 PM

  • Korean Cultural Center New York
    (122 E. 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016)

  • Recommended Ages: 6–9 (Drop-off Class)

  • Admission: Free, registration required
    * Spaces are limited and may fill quickly. Early registration is recommended.

Program Overview

From Seoul, with stories to share. The Korean Cultural Center New York is pleased to welcome internationally recognized, multi-award-winning author Hyunmin Park for a special children’s program.

The afternoon will begin with a book talk on 진정한 친구가 되는 법, How to Be a True Friend,(with Korean-to-English interpretation), introducing young readers to themes of friendship, imagination, and the true meaning of companionship.

In this warm and thought-provoking story, a young researcher named Yujin sets out on a mission at the Yeti Institute in the Himalayas. His task is to befriend a Yeti, and he approaches the creature with kindness, offering its favorite food. What begins as a scientific assignment soon grows into something unexpected: a genuine bond. Through humorous encounters, moments of care, and challenges that test his intentions, Yujin comes to realize that true friendship cannot be forced or calculated—it blossoms through empathy, respect, and trust. The book ultimately reminds readers that building a true friendship requires seeing others, and even nature itself, with an open heart.

Following the talk, participants will join a hands-on creative art workshop where they will create a fluffy Yeti keychain inspired by the book’s character, design a character-themed night mood light, and receive a cotton tote silkscreened live by the author as a one-of-a-kind keepsake.


About the Author

Hyunmin Park is an acclaimed picture book artist based in Seoul. He made his debut with So Much Snow, a work in which the materiality of white paper itself stands in for snow. Since then, Hyunmin has become recognized for his inventive use of framing, perspective, and negative space, inviting readers to complete stories with their imagination and discover playful new meanings.

His major works include So Much Snow, Let’s Play, Finding Light, City Flight, and How to Be a True Friend. Park’s artistry has been honored internationally and nationally, including a Special Mention in the Opera Prima category at the 2021 Bologna Ragazzi Awards, recognition as a Winning Illustrator at the 2022 Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the Grand Prize in the 2024 Korea Picture Book Award (Fiction), and selection for Best Book Design of Korea in 2025. Through his distinctive approach, Hyunmin continues to redefine the possibilities of picture books, inspiring children and adults around the world.

 
Inji Jung