This Origami Meditation Program began with my first experience of folding a camellia flower. Our family has lived with deep trauma due to the deaths of my grandfather and relatives, stemming from the Jeju April 3 Incident. This event is recorded as the first large-scale massacre in Asia following World War II, where one-tenth of the residents of Jeju Island, recognized by UNESCO as a beautiful volcanic island, were sacrificed.

     The camellia flower serves as a symbol to remember the victims of the Jeju April 3 Incident. While the way the flower drops whole without wilting recalls tragedy, I also see it as a powerful symbol of recovery and healing because new life sprouts where the fallen petals lay. Additionally, I believe the camellia can symbolize the wounds and recovery of everyone who has suffered from war, violence, and unjust death.

I wanted to expand the personal meditation practice through folding camellias into a collective experience. Our meditation involves not only camellias but over a hundred different origami forms, each fold bringing unique reflection and focus.

     We practice 'Ji-gyo-seon (紙巧禪) - Origami Mastery Meditation.' 'Jig-yo-seon' signifies a meditation that enters a meditation/zen state through mastering sophisticated techniques with paper. Through this, we experience deep immersion by mastering and refining the technical skills of origami. We focus solely on the technical process of folding paper and the subtle sensations of our hands, performing deep breathing exercises with each step.

    Origami, while repetitive and precise, enhances concentration and mindfulness. Scientific studies have shown that origami effectively reduces stress, calms the mind, and enhances cognitive clarity. Our program is open to everyone, regardless of religious beliefs.

    During our meditation, we write our thoughts and emotions on 'whispering paper,' then fold it into origami and display it on a 'whispering wall' to share the experience of collective meditation. The whispering wall exhibit stems from the belief that our individual stories connect into a communal experience, bringing comfort and healing to each other. For more details on the exhibit methods, please refer to our website or newsletter.

Through this program, we hope to heal our individual histories and shared memories, find inner peace, and grow together.

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Note: The Jeju 4.3 Incident was recently featured in We Do Not Part by Han Kang, last year’s Nobel Prize-winning author. Her novel explores the lasting impact of Jeju 4.3 and the deep scars it left on survivors and their descendants.