Colors of January #Ginbamhaneulsaek #Seolbaeksaek

Celebrating its 75^th anniversary,
Samhwa reveals 12 new colors named in native Korean words

Do you know what the words yunseul, narae, and dodam have in common? They are all native Korean words.

Yunseul refers to the sparkles of light reflecting off water. Narae is a word for wing. Dodam describes an object or a person as full and desirable. These native Korean words, devoid of Chinese characters or other foreign influences, are gaining popularity not just in everyday usage, but also as names for newborn babies.

In celebration of its 75^th anniversary, Samhwa Paints has unveiled 12 new colors, all named in these native Korean words.

The company has given a native Korean name to each month of the year and selected colors to go with it. People who might have felt alienated by the English or European-sounding names of paints may be heartened to see these beautiful native words.

January, the first of the 12 months, was given the name Haeoreumdal, meaning “the month that energetically starts the dawn of the new year.” The two main colors Samhwa has chosen for January are Ginbamhaneulsaek (“Long Night Sky”), which captures the intense and chilly blue of the winter night sky, and Seolbaeksaek (“Snow White”), referencing the whiteness of snow.

Ginbamhaneulsaek is reminiscent of the long and dark winter nights, providing, in their chill, the perfect contrast for stars that shine ever so brightly. Stare long enough into this nocturnal blue, and you will naturally be reminded of the sparkling stars that adorn the night sky during this season.

Dark blues like Ginbamhaneulsaek are known for their versatility, as they can be used to create classic and elegant atmospheres as well as casual ones. They can also be applied to smaller objects to bring them into better focus. The elegance of the color is an especially good match for a variety of wooden objects.

Applied to wainscoting, these dark blues can instantly enhance the luxury and value of a given space. Ginbamhanaeulsaek comes highly recommended for those looking to add eye-catching points to their interior designs with a not-so-obvious color choice.

Seolbaeksaek is the color of snow-covered winter landscapes.

Snow has the effect of driving noise out and calming the world down. As a color, it reminds us of the calm coziness of winter-white mornings.

White colors are useful for dramatically enlarging the sense of space. There is a reason so many interior designers favor it, as the color instantly broadens and brightens any place. Just as there are no two same pinks, there are no two identical hues of white. Seolbaeksaek is a soft, calm white that is slightly low in chromaticity. It is the perfect color for spaces to look uncluttered and expansive, such as a living room.

Over the last 7½ decades, Samhwa Paints has been creating a wide range of colors for all possibly imaginable applications, including on consumer electronics, in interior design and on cars and industrial facilities and plants. The company continues to commit itself to the discovery and development of new colors and cannot wait to unveil what the new native Korean names and colors will be for the remaining months of the year.