Eunju Park: Sharing light through tradition and healing at the Lakewood Covenant Community Health Centre

A journey to art 

Eunju Park never imagined she’d become an artist. Originally from South Korea, she moved to Canada in 2010 with her husband, settling in St. Albert. For years, she focused on raising her children and working as an English teacher. But after losing her father to suicide and experiencing a period of deep depression, Eunju found herself searching for something —anything — that could help her reconnect with joy. 

“I didn’t know I had art in me,” she says. “I always said I wasn’t creative but I was good at copying.” 

That changed when a friend introduced her to BTS, the Korean pop group known for its uplifting lyrics and celebration of Korean culture. Its music — filled with messages like “Love yourself.” and “It’s okay not to be okay.” — offered Eunju unexpected comfort and inspiration. 

“I never expected to be consoled by a K-pop boy band,” she says. “But their songs reminded me of how beautiful Korean culture is. They kept asking, ‘What’s your dream?’ And I realized I didn’t know. I didn’t even know what I liked to do.” 

Discovering Hanji 

Eunju began painting at home, often long after her kids had gone to bed. What started as a paint-by-numbers kit hobby quickly grew into a passion. She found herself drawn to Hanji, a traditional Korean paper made from mulberry trees, known for its durability and beauty. 

“I asked my sister to send me some Hanji from Korea,” she says. “I started drawing simple flowers on it, and they looked good to me. I kept going — 20, 30 flowers — and I loved it.” 

As she learned more about Hanji, Eunju felt a deep sense of responsibility to share it with others. “This paper has been around since the third century. It can last over 1,000 years. But even Koreans don’t know much about it, and the industry is disappearing.” 

Eunju’s art became a way to preserve and celebrate this cultural heritage, combining vibrant imagery with Korean words and messages of hope. 

Art with a message 

Eunju’s piece You Shine Brighter than Anyone at Lakewood Covenant Community Health Centre was inspired by the view of downtown Edmonton from the Strathearn Art Walk. Eunju wanted to capture the city’s vibrancy and the sense of community she feels living here. 

“I feel very lucky to live in a place that appreciates art,” she says. “Edmonton shines brighter than anyone.” 

She embedded the phrase “You shine brighter than anyone.” into the buildings in her artwork — each letter hidden in the architecture, waiting to be discovered. 

Art in a place of care 

For Eunju, learning that her piece would be displayed at Lakewood Covenant Community Health Centre was deeply personal since she had just recently been diagnosed with leukemia. 

“I was visiting the hospital a lot, and I saw all the art there,” she says. “I appreciated it so much. You don’t have to go to a gallery to see something beautiful and feel healed.” 

Her hope is that her work brings comfort to others, just as art has helped her through her own journey. 

“Even though nobody usually goes to a hospital for good news, maybe my piece — with its vibrant colours and message — can make someone feel a little better. That’s all I want from my art.” 

Enjoying the moment 

Since her diagnosis, Eunju has embraced a new rhythm, one focused on presence, gratitude and creating from the heart. Her calendar is full of exhibitions and opportunities, but she’s not chasing anything. Instead, she’s letting her art speak for itself. 

“I have started to enjoy the moment more,” she says. “If my pieces can speak, I think it will just naturally come.” 

Eunju’s dream now is simple but powerful: to keep sharing the beauty of Hanji, the strength of Korean culture and the healing power of art, one vibrant message at a time.