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Master potter Bang Chun-woong recognized as national heritage holder for traditional earthenware
🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Master potter Bang Chun-woong recognized as national heritage holder for traditional earthenware

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Approved/passed
  • Master potter Bang Chun-woong from Hongseong has been officially recognized as a holder of national intangible cultural heritage for 'onggi' (earthenware) by the Cultural Heritage Administration.
  • Bang, who comes from a family with a long tradition of pottery making, has been active in preserving and passing down traditional earthenware techniques, particularly using traditional wood-fired kilns.
  • His recognition highlights the historical and practical value of Chungnam's traditional pottery culture, which has roots dating back to the Three Kingdoms period.

Master potter Bang Chun-woong, based in Hongseong, has achieved national recognition as a holder of intangible cultural heritage for his expertise in 'onggi,' traditional Korean earthenware. The Cultural Heritage Administration officially acknowledged Bang's mastery, solidifying his role in preserving a craft with deep historical roots in South Korea.

Bang hails from a lineage of potters, with his family having engaged in earthenware production since his great-grandfather's time. He inherited and naturally learned the traditional techniques from a young age. Since being recognized as a provincial intangible cultural heritage holder in 2008, Bang has been actively involved in transmitting these skills throughout the Chungnam region.

Master Bang's traditional techniques passed down through his fingertips and his traditional kiln methods possess irreplaceable cultural value.

— Chungnam Provincial OfficialThe official commented on the cultural significance of Bang's work and pledged continued support for intangible heritage preservation.

He is particularly noted for his dedication to using traditional wood-fired kilns, known as 'oreum gamas.' This method is crucial for preserving the aesthetic and technical integrity of traditional onggi. The Cultural Heritage Administration lauded Bang's exceptional skill, honed over generations, and his faithful reproduction of traditional firing techniques, known as 'beonjo.'

The recognition of Bang's craft underscores the historical significance of pottery in the Chungnam province. This tradition is linked to the privatization of the Saongwon Bunwon (royal kiln) in the late Joseon Dynasty, which led to potters dispersing and establishing folk kilns in various regions, including Chungnam. Bang's onggi-making techniques are seen as a prime example of the historical depth and practicality of Chungnam's traditional ceramic culture, which has been intertwined with the lives of ordinary people.

The onggi master Bang Chun-woong has been finally recognized as a holder of national intangible heritage for onggi by the Cultural Heritage Administration.

— Dong-A IlboThis quote reflects the official announcement of Bang's national recognition.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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