2020 G-Ceramic Online Fair

Korean Ceramics are unique in their own ways and still in the phase of development with the government support and the globalization.

Supported by Gyeonggi Province, the G-Ceramic Fair is a unique event that aims to promote Korean ceramic artisanship, crafts, and industry. This year’s G-Ceramic Fair will be held online and is co-hosted by the Korea Ceramic Foundation, Icheon City, Gwangju City, Yeoju City, and Naver. Around 2,300 products from 123 companies will be displayed during the 2020 G-Ceramic Online Fair.

Ceramics and pottery have a special place, as well as a long history, in Korea and Korean culture. At some point in the history of the peninsula, Korean artisans became masters at creating ceramics, and Korean celadon and porcelain (notable for their distinct grey or green glazing) became highly sought after. To this day, ceramics are a highly regarded and esteemed form of artisanship in Korea.

What Is the G-Ceramic Online Fair?

The theme of this year’s fair has been announced as “On-Tact at 1,300°C” (1300℃의 온(溫)택트; a wordplay in the Korean language based on the double meaning of the syllable ‘On’, which means temperature and is also the first syllable of the word online). The philosophy behind the theme is that ceramics, which are baked at 1,300°C, can spread warmth in the day-to-day lives of users even from afar (or purchased online).

The ceramics that are introduced via G-Ceramic Online Fair can be purchased online
ⒸGyeonggi Province

The change of the event type from onsite to online was due to safety concerns stemming from the spread of COVID-19.

To help put the fair into motion and aid the different parties with preparations for participating in the G-Ceramics Online Fair, Gyeonggi-do has taken a number of different steps. Perhaps the most important step of all has been providing and setting up a total of six studios featuring different concepts, including a kitchen, living room, bedroom, library, studio, and mudroom, to help the participating ceramic makers present impactful images of their products for the pages of the online store. The entire image shoot encompassed approximately 1,300 products and will allow the creation of a virtual exhibition that is visually appealing and artistically arranged.

In addition, Gyeonggi-do has offered the 123 participating companies training in useful areas such as online sales. The training includes Naver shopping operation methods, marketing, sales promotion strategies, product image renewal, and store update strategies.

The online ceramics fair, which was made possible thanks to agreements made between the Korea Ceramics Foundation, Gyeonggi-do, and Naver, will help ceramic and pottery makers, who are also suffering from the economic fallout of COVID-19, reach new audiences. The 2020 G-Ceramics Online Fair will run for 10 days on Naver (November 27 to December 6).

The fair will include two exhibitions, a tableware contest, sales events (for general artists, up-and-coming artists, and invited artists), and various events such as raffles, a stamp tour, ceramic demonstrations, public experiences, and more.

Gyeonggi-do Ceramics Overseas Market Development Policies

Gyeonggi Province is eagerly supporting the global market development and distribution of Korean ceramics through a special project that targets overseas market development. This project has been initiated through the cooperation of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government and the Korea Ceramics Foundation. Through this program, Gyeonggi-do hopes to aid local Korean ceramic centers, such as Icheon, Yeoju, and Gwangju, to gain access to global markets.

The project has been devised with various facets of the development and growth of Korean ceramics in mind, such as product and brand development, finding buyers, and establishing Korean ceramic centers overseas. This pioneering project is expected to integrate with other local ceramic culture and tourism revitalization projects, such as the renovation of Icheon Ceramic Art Village, the creation of a touristic ceramic-themed alley, and more.

Gyeonggi province has been working on improving the local competitiveness of the Korean Ceramic Industry globally
ⒸGyeonggi Province

The provincial government has selected 10 teams with products of strategic potential; these teams will receive support and consultations on design development in early 2021.

The province has also created a new brand, K-Ceramic, to promote and help increase global awareness of Korean ceramics. Last June, a competition was held to select the perfect product to launch the K-Ceramic brand, which will be actively leveraged for the promotion and marketing of Korean ceramic and pottery products.

In order to explore overseas markets, Gyeonggi-do conducted basic surveys last April and is producing e-catalogs featuring outstanding products for more than 10,000 potential overseas buyers. In addition, the province plans to create and operate Korean ceramics centers abroad (the first of which will be built in Hanoi, Vietnam).

The province has also been striving to strengthen the local competitiveness of the Korean ceramic industry, which will be a pillar for the globalization of Korean ceramics. One of the major steps taken is for the promotion and strengthening of the Icheon Ceramics Arts Village (Ye`s Park), which was founded in December 2017 through various follow-up projects. By providing various attractions such as ceramic-related education, experiences, exhibitions, and more, the province is advancing the establishment of ceramic tourism in the area.