SEOUL, April 30 (AJP) - The air at the festival entrance is thick with the scent of wet soil and fresh grass. Families, elderly couples, and travelers with cameras walk together along a 900-meter stretch of workshops.
The most significant change to the Icheon ceramic festival this year is the expansion of space. The three villages of Ye’s Park are now connected into a single route. Visitors wander through the entire village as part of a stay-and-experience cultural model.
Approximately 300 workshops occupy 120,000 pyeong of land. Artists are present at each site to explain their work. The village has transformed from a marketplace into a living platform for ceramic art.
While the Sagimakgol pottery village represents tradition, Ye’s Park showcases modern expansion. In the masters' exhibition hall, renowned artisans stay at their posts to engage with visitors.
Guests can watch the entire production process, from spinning the wheel to carving intricate patterns. The space highlights the educational value of the craft. One wall features student works from Korea Ceramic High School alongside pieces by masters with decades of experience.
National master Choi In-kyu and Icheon master Yu Yong-cheol previously served as civilian diplomats. They spent years traveling to Canada, France, and the United States to demonstrate Korean pottery. They often used their own funds to promote the craft.
The pandemic halted this momentum as travel stopped and international events were canceled. Both masters now highlight the limitations of individual effort. They believe the state must lead systematic promotion to sustain the global reputation of Korean culture.
Despite these difficulties, the masters continue to teach. They refuse to charge fees for children who come to handle the clay. They share their knowledge on spinning wheels and reading kiln temperatures without hesitation.
"I hope they will think of ceramics just one more time in the future," the masters said. This commitment to the next generation explains why the festival has continued for 40 years.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
