With the help of Professor Liu, Kim says he gradually came to understand the meaning behind the characters and the techniques used in calligraphy.

"Now, I find an aroma of calligraphy in the ink," he says.

Like An, Kim also has participated in many calligraphy-related activities, including competitions for foreign students in Beijing.

"I once signed up for an event where we were required to write 50 Chinese characters, and I practiced writing on 20 sheets of paper," he says.

Kim says he also experiences a sense of spiritual elevation from calligraphy and has begun sharing his work with his family and friends.