Korean Onggi Ceramics Workshop

Discover the rich tradition of Korean onggi—earthenware vessels that have been an essential part of Korean daily life for more than 6,000 years. Traditionally used to ferment staple foods like kimchi and soy sauce, onggi is celebrated worldwide for its remarkable breathability, functionality, and enduring beauty.

Join Busan City Master Potter Jeon SooGeol for a live demonstration of the traditional techniques used to hand-build these large vessels. Watch as he skillfully shapes clay using wooden paddles and simple tools, sharing a craft passed down through generations that continues to inspire contemporary ceramic artists today.

Schedule

Onggi-Making Demonstration with Master Ceramicist Jeon SooGeol
11 AM–12:30 PM | Experience a live onggi-making demonstration and learn about the history, cultural significance, and incredible craftsmanship behind Korea’s iconic earthenware.

Hands-on Onggi Workshop
2–3 PM | Learn the fundamentals of traditional onggi-making in an intimate workshop led by Master Jeon. Participants will explore basic hand-building and paddling techniques while creating their own small onggi jar to take home. No prior ceramics experience is required; all materials are provided. Space is limited and reservations are highly recommended. Reserve Tickets

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  About the Artist

  Jeon SooGeol’s work in ceramics is a dialogue between the elemental nature of clay and the abstract beauty of the natural world. He translates the fleeting phenomena of daily life—the flow of water, the sweep of the wind, the depth of the earth, and the light of the sky—onto the canvas of clay.

   

  The core of his practice lies in pursuing a natural aesthetic that bridges the timeless elegance of Korean tradition with a contemporary sensibility. By manipulating texture and surface, he embodies the unique rhythm of Korea’s four seasons, an approach intrinsically linked to his philosophy of finding a sustainable balance between work and life.

Top Image:

Songs of Onggi I, 2006. by Chung-Hyun Cho (Korean, b. 1940). Fired onggi clay. Asian Art Museum, Acquisition made possible by Dennis Marino, F2007.2.1.a-.c. Photograph © Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Songs of Onggi 2, 2006. by Chung-Hyun Cho (Korean, b. 1940). Fired onggi clay. Asian Art Museum, Gift of Cho Chung-Hyun, F2007.2.2.a-.b. Photograph © Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Songs of Onggi 3, 2006. by Chung-Hyun Cho (Korean, b. 1940). Fired onggi clay. Asian Art Museum, Acquisition made possible by Dennis Marino, F2007.2.3.a-.b. Photograph © Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.