The Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology (JKWST) launched in 1973 as an official publication of the Korean Society of Wood Science and Technology has been served as a core of knowledges on wood science and technology.

Daknamu (Broussonetia × kazinoki), the primary fiber source for hanji (traditional Korean handmade paper), provides fibers that are highly durable and used in fine-edition publishing as well as in the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage materials and historic books. However, hanji production has declined due to decreased farm cultivation of B. × kazinoki, emphasizing the need for efficient vegetative propagation. This study evaluated the effects of three rooting media (commercial substrate, a mixture of commercial substrate and decomposed granite soil, and decomposed granite soil) and two plant growth regulators (auxins), 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), including a rooting powder containing 0.8% IBA, on rooting performance and physiological responses. Decomposed granite soil produced the highest rooting rate, and the rooting effect index peaked with the rooting powder treatment. Exogenous auxins consistently increased the rooting rate and improved root traits. Photosynthetic activity was enhanced in decomposed granite soil, indicating improved water uptake following root development. Chlorophyll fluorescence showed a low F_v/F_m ratio and a JIP pattern indicative of stress. Soil analyses confirmed greater aeration and drainage in decomposed granite soil but revealed limitations in post-rooting water and nutrient availability. Root traits were positively correlated with photosynthetic parameters and available phosphorus, whereas electrical conductivity, cation-exchange capacity, moisture, organic matter, total nitrogen, and exchangeable cations were negatively correlated. Decomposed granite soil combined with 1500 mg·L⁻¹ IBA or rooting powder provided practical conditions for nursery-scale propagation. These findings provide a scientific basis for developing efficient cutting propagation systems for B. × kazinoki in farms and nurseries.

Despite the existence of proof, it has not been revealed whether or not Korean way of papermaking method using a device equiped with deckle exists for Hanji making. To prove the existence of it, the relation between papermaking method and the shape of filamentous materials in Hanji was investigated. For the investigation, the shape of the filamentous water silk in the Hanji called 'Taeji'was analyzed. There were two categories of Taeji used in the investigation. One category was Taeji relics which were 10 letter relics written on Taeji in the 1700s to 1800s. The shape of filamentous water silk in the Taeji relics was mainly curved. The other category was Taeji made in 2019. In this category, there were two types of Taeji made by a papermaking device equiped with deckle and one without a deckle. Shape of filamentous water silk in Taeji made by a papermaking device equiped with deckle was curved, while that was linear in Taeji made by a papermaking device with no deckle. Similar results were obtained in the test to make Hanji with the mixture of Dak fiber and black silk thread. As a result, It has confirmed for the first time that the 10 letter relics written on Taeji were made by a papermaking device equiped with deckle. It refers that Korean way of papermaking method using a device equiped with deckle was existed before Japanese method flown in Korea.

This study investigated the effects of environmentally friendly soil amendments—processed red clay (PRC) and rice husk (RH)—on early establishment, growth characteristics, phytochemical accumulation, and soil chemical properties in wild-simulated ginseng (WSG; Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) cultivated under forest conditions. PRC was produced through alkali-assisted thermal processing to improve material homogeneity and enhance plant-available mineral components, particularly silicon. We hypothesized that the combined application of PRC and RH would improve soil chemical conditions and thereby support WSG growth and phytochemical accumulation under low-input cultivation systems. Four treatments were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with four replicates: non-treated control (NMNF), PRC alone (NMPRC), RH alone (RHNF), and combined PRC and RH (RHPRC). Growth responses were assessed in one-year-old and seven-year-old WSG, including germination rate, seedling vigor index, growth traits, photosynthetic pigment composition, total polyphenol content, ginsenoside profiles, and soil chemical properties. The RHPRC treatment significantly increased germination rate and seedling vigor compared to the non-treated control and showed consistently greater biomass accumulation across cultivation stages. RH application was primarily associated with improved early establishment and increased total polyphenol content, particularly during the early growth stage, whereas PRC application was associated with enhanced root development and age-dependent increases in selected ginsenosides. Soil analyses indicated that PRC application increased available phosphorus and exchangeable cation contents, with the most stable improvements observed under combined PRC and RH treatment. Overall, the results indicate that integrated mineral–organic soil management using PRC and RH can improve soil chemical propertise and support long-term growth and phytochemical accumulation in WSG cultivated under forest conditions. This approach offers a practical, low-input strategy for enhancing the sustainability of WSG cultivation while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers.