'2025 Jinju Traditional Craft Biennale' Appoints Jo Ilsang as Artistic Director

Preparation for Next Year's Seonggong Biennale Kicks Off in Earnest

Jinju City in Gyeongnam announced on the 19th that it has appointed Jo Ilsang, former director of the Busan Museum of Art, as the artistic director of the ‘2025 Jinju Traditional Craft Biennale’ at the City Hall Entrepreneurs' Room.

Artistic Director Jo, a sculptor who graduated with a master's degree in craft from Hongik University, has played a key role in the development of Korean culture and arts by serving in various positions such as dean of the College of Arts at Dong-A University, operating committee member of the Korea Craft Exhibition, and vice chairman of the Korea Fine Arts Association.

'2025 Jinju Traditional Craft Biennale' Appointment Ceremony of Artistic Director Jo Ilsang.

As the artistic director of the ‘2023 Jinju Traditional Craft Biennale,’ Director Jo effectively highlighted the artistic value of Jinju’s traditional woodworking (somok) works, attracting approximately 45,000 visitors and contributing to strengthening Jinju’s international status as a UNESCO Creative City in the field of crafts and folk art.

In particular, the 2023 Biennale utilized Jinju’s representative cultural spaces such as the Jinju Railroad Culture Park and the Vehicle Maintenance Depot to promote cultural assets as a UNESCO Creative City and achieved the establishment of Jinju’s image as a city of culture and arts. As a result, in May of this year, Jinju was selected as the chair city in the field of crafts and folk art among UNESCO Creative Cities.

Director Jo stated, “Based on the experience gained from the 2023 Biennale, I will do my best to strengthen the artistic foundation that matches Jinju’s high cultural level.”

Mayor Jo Gyu-il said, “We will actively support Jinju traditional crafts to develop beyond mere heritage into cultural assets connected to the world,” and added, “We look forward to the successful promotion of the 2025 Jinju Traditional Craft Biennale, now in its third edition.”

Jinju City has laid the groundwork for the full-scale promotion of the event by appointing the artistic director and forming the organizing committee for the 2025 Jinju Traditional Craft Biennale, and plans to accelerate preparations to further enhance its status as the chair city of the UNESCO Creative Cities network.