Sangmyung University and Buan Celadon Museum Join Forces to Preserve Inlaid Celadon and Foster Young Ceramic Artists

Joint Initiatives to Train Professionals and Revitalize the Ceramics Industry
Buan Aims to Become a Hub for Celadon Culture

Sangmyung University announced on August 13 that it had signed a business agreement with the Buan Celadon Museum (Governor Kwon Ikhyeon) in Buan-gun, Jeollabuk-do, at the Buan County Office on August 12. The agreement aims to promote the transmission of inlaid celadon techniques, foster young ceramic artists, and revitalize the ceramics industry.

The signing ceremony was attended by Governor Kwon Ikhyeon and other officials from Buan-gun, as well as Dean Yoo Donggwan of the College of Design at Sangmyung University, Professor Hong Yeobjung, head of the Ceramic Design major, and Professor Song Junkyu.

The two institutions agreed to cooperate in various areas, including: ▲ training professionals specializing in inlaid celadon, ▲ fostering the ceramics industry, ▲ jointly conducting research and public projects on celadon cultural resources, and ▲ expanding exchanges among local ceramic artists.

Opened in 2011, the Buan Celadon Museum is a first-class specialized museum featuring an outdoor historic park with Goryeo celadon kiln sites and exhibition and experience spaces. The museum is dedicated to preserving Korean cultural heritage and revitalizing the industry through collaborative projects with local ceramic artists, academic research, and the development of the celadon industry.

The Ceramic Design major at Sangmyung University was established in 1988 as the first university program in Korea aimed at training professionals in industrial ceramics design and research. Through industry-academic cooperation and studio-based education, the program has produced creative talent.

Dean Yoo Donggwan stated, "We will work together to find ways to revitalize the industry by utilizing inlaid celadon, a representative cultural asset of Buan," and added, "By providing students with practice-oriented professional education, we aim to nurture young ceramic artists and contribute to the development of local industry."

Governor Kwon Ikhyeon said, "We will actively promote infrastructure expansion and policies to support the celadon industry so that Buan can become a creative stage for young ceramic artists."