Meet Hanseul Kim | Calligrapher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hanseul Kim and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hanseul, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk ultimately comes down to making choices. Every choice has two sides, and we use the word “risk” because there’s a possibility it could lead to something dangerous or produce a negative outcome. In that sense, risk is simple and clear. All you need to ask yourself is, “Which choice will I regret less?” Once you make a choice with no regrets, it brings satisfaction, whether it involves risk or not.
In my tenth year as a fashion editor in Korea, I made the bold decision to quit my job. It was driven by a long-held desire to experience living abroad at least once, and that
choice led me to Los Angeles. I was at the height of my career, and leaving meant pausing everything with no concrete plans or guarantees for the future. But before I got any older, I wanted to live in LA. So, I left my glamorous job and spent a year there, staying in a homestay and attending language school.
While learning English, I also enrolled in a calligraphy class. I had wanted to learn calligraphy since my editor days, but never found the time or the right teacher in Korea. After my first class, I knew it would become a lifelong passion. I was completely absorbed in writing, practicing tirelessly for a whole year.
During that time, I also met my soulmate—a miraculous, almost movie-like event. We decided to get married shortly after meeting, and that’s how I ended up living in LA. Even though I got married, I had no solid career in the U.S. However, I had calligraphy. The calligraphy market in the U.S. was strong, and by registering my business on Google and Yelp, I began my new career.
This is the story of the biggest risk I ever took and the decision that changed my life—how I became a calligrapher in LA.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
In an age where everything is becoming digital, I believe that calligraphy—writing each letter by hand with ink on paper—is one of the most unique and valuable practices. The joy I experience when the ink spreads on the paper and the elegant curves of the letters come together to create something beautiful is unparalleled.

Working with luxury fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Gucci, and Hermes has allowed me to transition from a hobbyist to a professional calligrapher. These opportunities have opened doors for me to work with various brands and in diverse areas like weddings and film events, where the beauty and value of handcrafted work are deeply appreciated.

After gaining 5 to 6 years of experience and understanding the flow of work, I started a new chapter this year by launching calligraphy workshops. Unlike my usual solo projects, teaching was a new challenge for me. Contrary to my initial concerns, many people who loved calligraphy but didn’t know how to start signed up for the classes. It has been rewarding to share the allure of this profession with others and to have found friends who appreciate its aesthetics.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I often conduct both large and small tours around Los Angeles, to the point where I even use the hashtag “HanseulTour.” While I usually tailor the recommendations to the client’s preferences, the tours typically center around art galleries and include lifestyle concept stores and outdoor restaurants.
David Kordansky+Sycamore kitchen + Decoys +NickeyKehoe
Jeffrey Deitch+Tartine+Just one eye
Karma + Bode+ BDDW

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to express my gratitude to W Korea Magazine, my first career and the platform that allowed me to spend my twenties and thirties so vibrantly without any regrets. As a fashion editor at W Korea, I experienced things that would have been impossible in an ordinary job. Traveling to the four major fashion weeks, I had the privilege of witnessing living art and contemporary creativity, enriching myself in ways that money could never buy. The sophisticated invitations from luxury brands and other artistic experiences during that time inspired me to appreciate the true value of luxury, eventually leading me to pursue a new path as a calligrapher who understands and can express that aesthetic.

Website: https://jollyseulcalligraphy.com

Instagram: jollyseulcalligraphy

Image Credits
All photo credits go to Hanseul Kim