Benefitting country(ies): Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Overview:

The proposed six-month project is aimed at building capacities relating to the traditional Koryo celadon making practice. The project is to be implemented by a working group established by the DPRK Academy of Social Sciences, in cooperation with the National Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for UNESCO. Recently, decreased interest in the tradition has resulted in dwindling ceramic production, and even in some long-standing celadon families losing pride in the practice. To overcome these obstacles, the proposed project aims to understand the viability of the practice in the country through on-site investigations and to raise awareness about the Koryo celadon making practice through the organization of a workshop and the publication of a book. Through its implementation, the project is expected to lead to the identification of more than seven major traditional Koryo celadon-making units. Furthermore, fifty local pottery makers are to be trained and a book on Koryo celadon making is to be published and distributed among the communities. The project would thus improve the skills of local makers concerned and increase public interest in the practice. If successfully implemented, it is expected to serve as a model for studying and safeguarding traditional handcraftsmanship and other elements of intangible cultural heritage in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

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