‘K-Jewelry’ Fostered by Jongno Heads to Italy

Participation in Vicenzaoro, One of the World’s Top Three Jewelry Fairs

Jewelry companies fostered by Jongno-gu, Seoul (District Mayor: Chung Moonhun), will be showcased at one of the world’s top three jewelry exhibitions. On January 16, Jongno-gu announced that it will support four local jewelry companies in participating in Italy’s “Vicenzaoro” fair.

‘K-Jewelry’ Fostered by Jongno Heads to Italy

K-Jewelry Jongno Festival held last October. Provided by Jongno-gu.

The fair, held from January 16 to 20 in Vicenza, Italy, is a global event with a 70-year history and serves as a key bridgehead for the jewelry industry, attracting major buyers from Europe and the Middle East. This year, more than 1,300 companies from 36 countries are participating, and approximately 35,000 visitors from 141 countries are expected to attend.

The district has set up a 30-square-meter joint pavilion to ease the participation burden for the four companies-Mitznoib, Soyou, Heradi, and The Yeoun. By prominently featuring the Jongno brand, the plan is to highlight the potential of Korean jewelry to the world.

Korea’s jewelry industry boasts world-class craftsmanship. While Korean artisans have won awards at international skills competitions for 27 consecutive times, the industry still lacks leading global brands. The district aims to move beyond a domestic and offline sales-focused structure by expanding online and overseas distribution channels.

On January 17, Jongno-gu will sign a business agreement with Italian Exhibition Group (IEG), the exhibition organizer supported by the Italian Ministry of Industry. The agreement will focus on research, technology, and resource exchanges related to the jewelry industry, as well as participation in exhibitions and workshops through mutual invitations.

Jongno-gu has been dedicated to fostering the jewelry industry. Last year, 16 graduates of the K-Jewelry Artificial Intelligence (AI) training program won awards at the “International Jewelry Design Competition,” Korea’s most prestigious contest. The district is currently running field-oriented training programs in collaboration with the University of Seoul, the Wolgok Jewelry Industry Foundation, and the Mirae Jewelry Academy.

On December 23, Jongno-gu held a report session to mark the publication of the “Korean Jewelry Industry Terminology Dictionary.” The dictionary organizes about 2,000 terms in manufacturing and gemology and will be published as an e-book.

District Mayor Chung Moonhun stated, “K-Jewelry already possesses world-class technological prowess. We will continue our efforts to ensure that the jewelry industry secures its unique value on the global stage through comprehensive support connecting education, digital transformation, and overseas market expansion.”