◇”I can see the value by throwing away my greed”… Happy 'Heo's Silk' 

“Click click click click” The face of President Heo Ho as he steps on the stepping machine loom is always smiling. The icing on the cake is the 'Heossi Silk Textile Factory', which is not included in the Art Road, but is a must-visit in Hamchang, the home of three hundred. It is about 1km away from Hamchang Station along a straight road, so it is not far to walk. CEO Heo Ho, who is in his 60s this year, is from a family that has been weaving silk for the fifth generation. His wife, Min Sook-hee, is also the 4th generation of the family business. At one time, there were about 200 silk companies in Hamchang alone, but now there are only a handful of them. This is because the demand for silk, which was used as a shroud, has drastically decreased as the funeral culture has changed to focus on cremation. He thought about quitting, but instead of giving up mass production, he decided to focus on high-end fabrics and live a more enjoyable life. The value of silk stock, which had not been seen because of focusing only on making money, began to be seen.

Heo Ho, CEO of Heo Ciddan. When I asked to take a picture, he said he wanted to take a picture with the background of a cocoon, a lifelong breadwinner. It exhibits the history of change from the use of leaves and straw to the improved one. 

In the field trip program, you can look at the changing process of the loom and operate it yourself. 

CEO Heo is demonstrating the process of spinning yarn from a cocoon. 

A bundle of silk scarves infused with persimmon juice. All of them are made with different patterns, which is another fun and experiment for President Huh these days.
 

Initiating a field trip program is part of that. The first floor of the factory has been turned into a workshop and exhibition room. You can see and experience everything from spinning threads from silkworm cocoons to weaving on a loom. You can also see the history of looms that have been improved from complete manual operation. “These old machines used to be trash, but now they are treasures.” We are proud to introduce a loom that has been used for generations in the family for over 100 years.

I've been weaving since I was 17 years old, so it must be boring, but there are people who are interested and come to visit me every day. The story I want to tell for about 2 hours is, after all, his ‘life in myeongju’. “When you put your money, you see the value. Even if I don't have to be greedy, my portion goes into my pocket anyway. haha." After the tour program, President Huh hurriedly left the factory, saying that he had to go to Yeongcheon to move the abandoned Jamsil. There might be a nice museum in Hamchang in the near future. ‘Heossi Silk’ operates a tour program free of charge, and a small fee is charged for natural dyeing or persimmon dyeing experience. Inquire at 054-541-3730.

◇On the way to Hamchang

Hamchang is administratively Sangju, but it is attached to Mungyeong-si. Express buses run 9 times a day from Dong Seoul Terminal to Hamchang Bus Station. The duration is 2 hours and 15 minutes. It is also convenient to use the Jeomchon Intercity Bus Terminal, which runs 32 times a day. It is about 4 km from Jeomchon Terminal to Hamchang Station. You can take a taxi or take a bus frequently. By car, it is close to JeomchonㆍHamchang IC on the Jungbu Naeryuk Expressway.