The Season of Festivals: "Shall We Go to Icheon to Make Pottery?"

Opening at Icheon Ceramic Art Village from the 25th
Icheon City: "It will be an eco-friendly and community-cooperative festival"

As the spring atmosphere becomes evident, various festivals are being held across the country. It is truly the season of festivals.

The metropolitan area is no exception. On the weekend, festivals that can be enjoyed without spending much time or money are taking place. One eye-catching event is the 'Icheon Ceramic Festival' in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. Started in 1987, the Icheon Ceramic Festival is celebrating its 38th edition this year and is considered a representative festival in southern Gyeonggi. It opens on the 25th at Icheon Ceramic Art Village (Yes Park) and Sagimakgol Pottery Village and runs for 12 days until the 6th of next month.

At the Icheon Ceramic Festival held last year, a potter is shaping pottery in front of spectators.
[Photo by Icheon City]

How Did Icheon Become a Ceramic City?

The ceramic industry in Icheon flourished because it is located near Seoul with abundant clay and fuel that allow the use of traditional kilns and pottery techniques. Potters who had already settled there and those who came from all over the country gathered, creating a thriving community. By the 1980s, continuous establishment of kilns helped Icheon establish itself as a major ceramic production area.

In particular, the Sindun-myeon area, where about 300 kilns are concentrated, is famous as a representative pottery village in Korea. Currently, around 400 workshops across Icheon produce a variety of products and works, including celadon, white porcelain, buncheong ware, and Onggi earthenware.

The Icheon Ceramic Festival, which began in 1987, gained significant attention with the hosting of the 2001 World Ceramic Expo. This event marked the festival’s transformation from a simple product-selling event to a festival combined with diverse cultural content.

"Held as an Eco-friendly and Community Co-prosperity Integrated Festival"

This year, Icheon City plans to expand the scale of the Icheon Ceramic Festival by integrating and linking various events while developing it into an 'eco-friendly and community co-prosperity festival.'

Ceramic exhibition and sales booth at last year's Icheon Ceramic Festival.
[Photo by Icheon City]

At this year’s festival site, reusable items will be used instead of disposable products, and there will be an event where visitors can exchange household plastics for ceramic purchase coupons. Limited edition Icheon ceramics will be sold alongside local specialties at the venue.

One notable feature is the installation of a large dome to create an independent exhibition space. Inside the dome, various exhibitions such as planned exhibitions, master craftsman exhibitions, master craftsman product sales, contemporary artist contests, international exchange exhibitions, and the Korea Ceramic Technology Institute exhibition will be held.

The city plans to link the festival with the revitalization of the local commercial district. Visitors will receive a 5% discount not only at booths within the festival site but also at restaurants in the area.

The opening ceremony on the 26th will feature classical music performances, a drone show, wheel-throwing demonstrations by master potters and pottery high school students, and spectacular congratulatory performances by famous singers. During the event period, various programs such as busking performances by over 40 teams, public auctions of traditional kiln-fired works, tea ceremony experiences, temple food plating, and a firewood rice bread giveaway event will be operated.