소래포구 상인들 “40년 만에 색연필 잡고 나를 위해 그림 그렸죠”

Last Monday morning in Incheon Namgu Donggu, So-rae-gu Community Hall's 2nd floor education room, 50-year-old Go Se-hi recalled her school experience with tears in her eyes. Recently in a state of mid-life crisis, Go initially struggled with attending classes, borrowing lessons from nearby merchants. Despite having no natural talent for art, she found herself sitting at her desk until midnight every night, completing homework.

The final homework was completed at 1:30 in the morning. "Even when under stress, I unconsciously sit at my desk," she admitted, focusing solely on herself. After a year-long break, Go began posting three lines daily on her Instagram. This day marked the final class and graduation ceremony of 'Sora with a Long History', a program run by the Namgu Cultural Heritage Foundation for So-rae-gu merchants.

The program created a shared recipe book by combining merchants' food and memories into written and illustrated formats. The education room was filled with handwritten notes and drawings. The five-day-a-week class took place every Wednesday morning at 9:30 AM, with merchants squeezing in time between their busy schedules. The two-hour break from sales was not easy.

The first day was focused on introducing herself through food, and one merchant expressed their emotional satisfaction with creating art for the first time in 40 years. Merchants continued to work on their craft and family responsibilities, finding time for personal growth. Even those not involved in the program, like a 61-year-old immigrant (60) with 20 years of experience, found it easy to focus on their art and writing.

The last class saw merchants visiting the Namgu Cultural Heritage Foundation exhibition hall, which featured an exhibit of the old market and market history. The gap between the market and the museum was bridged on this day. The foundation aimed to become the main entity that records and preserves merchants' memories and experiences.

Despite initially struggling to find participants, the program gained popularity after word spread among nearby merchants. Of the 20 new participants, 14 completed the course, while four attended every session. The graduates received certification as 'Artisan Merchants' and a 'So-rae-gu Art Merchant' sign. Their completed work is set to be published as a shared recipe book in October.