38 works submitted across 6 categories including ceramics and metalwork; winners of encouragement prize and above to be designated Ulsan-certified craft businesses

"Sangam, Mokhyang Dajeong," the grand prize winner at the 27th Ulsan Metropolitan City Craft Competition (left), and "Breath of Ulsan," which took the gold prize. [Ulsan city government]
"Sangam, Mokhyang Dajeong," the grand prize winner at the 27th Ulsan Metropolitan City Craft Competition (left), and "Breath of Ulsan," which took the gold prize. [Ulsan city government]

Kim Jong-pil's "Sangam, Mokhyang Dajeong," a wood-lacquer work, took the grand prize at the 27th Ulsan Metropolitan City Craft Competition, which the city organized to preserve and advance traditional craft skills.

Ulsan announced the competition in April and accepted submissions from June 10 to June 23, drawing 38 entries in total: 3 in wood and lacquer, 15 in ceramics, 3 in metalwork, 8 in textiles, 7 in paper crafts and 2 in other crafts. A judging panel convened June 24 and evaluated the works on quality, marketability, design and creativity, selecting 25 prize-winning pieces.

Beyond the grand prize, Kim Ji-seon took the gold prize in metalwork for "Breath of Ulsan." The two silver prizes went to Namgung Seon-han in ceramics for "Resonance of 7,000 Years of History" and Park Su-jin in textiles for "Petroglyphs Blooming as Flowers."

The three bronze prizes went to Choi Yun-gyeom in ceramics for "Breath," Oh Eun-mi in metalwork for "Four Gracious Plants, the Texture of Everyday Life," and Kim Gang-hui in paper crafts for "Jiseung Gujeolpan, Ham."

The three encouragement prizes went to Im Si-an in ceramics for "Taehwa River Flower Cluster," Im Dong-hun in metalwork for "Odong Inlaid Silver Knife," and Lee Mi-ja in paper crafts for "Bangudae, Weaving Life Along the Waterway." Five works received special selection honors and 10 received honorable mentions.

The prize-winning works will be on display at Exhibition Hall 1 of the Ulsan Culture and Arts Center through June 29, after which they will be eligible to compete in the 56th Korea Craft Competition, to be held in Cheongju from Nov. 6 to Nov. 8. Businesses that win the encouragement prize or above will be designated Ulsan-certified craft businesses.

"This year's competition featured works from a wide range of fields that showcased the creativity and passion of local craftspeople, reaffirming the continuity of traditional craft," a city official said.


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