Gil Jeong-bon

Mother-of-pearl craftsman Gil Jeong-bon entered the field of mother-of-pearl lacquerware in 1968, received technical training from Master Shin Bu-gil, Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 54, in 1983, and contributed to the development of Korean mother-of-pearl craftsmanship through his active artistic work.

In addition to a solo exhibition at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, there were numerous solo exhibitions held in various cities. In 1984, U.S. Secretary of Defense Weinberger and his entourage, along with other state guests, visited the center. In 1993, there was a permanent exhibition of his works at the Peace and Friendship Pavilion of the Daejeon Expo (viewed by the Mayor of Osaka City and a group of foreign guests). He was also featured in various media outlets on the theme of "the excellence of Korean culture and arts and the importance of its inheritance," including on KBS's [Let's Meet at 11:00, Morning Plaza].
In 1987, an exhibition was held at the invitation of Japan for the Silk Road International Expo, a global event, and the number of visitors exceeded one million. This served as an opportunity to introduce the beautiful mother-of-pearl lacquerware of Korea to the world through various media outlets. Following this, hundreds of invitational exhibitions were held with the support of various prefectures, cities, education committees, and the media in Japan.
Although I received numerous offers to transfer my skills in Japan (from Nara, Osaka, and Yokohama), I declined the highest honors out of a determination to preserve the artistic spirit of Korea, and have steadfastly maintained my position as an artist representing Korea. As the Japanese media, including NHK, took an increasingly keen interest and continued to cover the story, the KBS documentary "The Art of Light: Mother-of-Pearl, Captivating Japan" was aired in Korea. I was awarded the [Proud Korean Award] alongside figure skating queen Kim Yuna, national swimmer Park Tae-hwan, and Korea's first astronaut Lee So-yeon, all of whom have brought glory to Korea.
With the sponsorship and invitation of the Japan Organizing Committee for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by Korea and Japan, I held an exhibition of my work at Meguro Kajoen in Tokyo. I was the only foreigner in Japan to have my work selected for entry into the Imperial Palace, and I was also the only foreigner to receive the Minister of Culture Award in the cultural arts category.
He became a major pillar of private diplomacy by introducing Korea’s traditional art, mother-of-pearl lacquerware, to the world. He held the first invited exhibition by a foreigner at the Nikko Toshogu Art Museum (a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to the largest number of cultural properties in Japan, and a place with deep historical ties to Korea dating back hundreds of years), where the first Korean Joseon Tongsinsa was dispatched, and received special treatment, such as being provided with a permanent exhibition hall within the Nikko Toshogu Treasure Museum and an official residence within the palace. Furthermore, there is a mother-of-pearl lacquerware art museum at the Aoki Gallery in Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, where the proud Taegeukgi hangs.

[ Key Profile ]

Introduction to Mother-of-Pearl Lacquerware (1968)
Under the tutelage of Master Sim Bu-gil, Important Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 54
Director of Giljeongbon Mother-of-Pearl Craft Institute
Appeared numerous times on KBS's "Let's Meet at 11" and "Morning Yard."
KBS Documentary Airing
U.S. Secretary of Defense Weinberger and his entourage visit art gallery - State reception
Daejeon EXPO Peace and Friendship Pavilion – State Reception
Japan Nara Silk Road Expo Nara Invitational Exhibition – Visitors Surpass 1 Million
[Excellence of Korean Traditional Crafts and Korea-Japan Cultural Exchange] – NHK Nara
Selected as a work for the Japanese Imperial Palace (The only foreigner selected)
Multiple collections at the Aoki Museum of Art, Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
Permanent exhibition of works inside the Treasure Museum of Nikko Toshogu Shrine (UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to the largest number of cultural properties) in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

[ Exhibition ]

1981 Gwangju Student Hall Art Exhibition
1983 Seoul Sejong Center for the Performing Arts Exhibition
1985 Daejeon Civic Center Art Exhibition
1986 Daegu Civic Center Exhibition – Sponsored by Daegu City and Daegu KBS
1988 Japan Silk Road Expo Invitational Exhibition (Sponsored by Nara City and NHK Nara Broadcasting)
1988 Kyoto City, Japan Exhibition – International Hall (Sponsored by Kyoto City and NHK Kyoto Broadcasting System)
Participation in the production of the artwork displayed in the main building of the Blue House, South Korea in 1991
1991 Osaka City, Japan Art Exhibition – International Exchange Center
(Sponsored by Osaka City, City Board of Education, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Osaka, and NHK Osaka Broadcasting Station)
1993 Daejeon EXPO Exhibition – Peace and Friendship Pavilion
Invitational Exhibition at the 2002 Paris International Exposition (Organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Korean Artists Association)
2002 Korea-Japan World Cup Joint Hosting Commemorative Exhibition – Meguro Gajoen, Tokyo
(Sponsored by the City of Yokohama, the Organizing Committee for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Japan, the Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan, Meguro Ward, Tokyo, the Central Headquarters of the Korean Women’s Association in Japan, and the Central Headquarters of the Japan-Korea Women’s Friendship Association)
2003 Seoul Arts Center Exhibition
Exhibited at the 2003 Fiera International Craft Fair in Milan, Italy
2007 Ulsan Exhibition – Hyundai Department Store Gallery
2007 Gyeongju Art Exhibition – Gyeongju Hilton Hotel – Sponsored by City Hall
2007 Daejeon Art Exhibition – Gallery inside Daejeon City Hall
2008 Hiroshima, Japan Art Exhibition – Asteru Plaza Citizen Gallery
(Sponsored by Hiroshima City, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Board of Education, Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hiroshima Prefecture Japan-Korea Friendship Association, and the Hiroshima Regional Headquarters of the Korean Residents Association in Japan)
2010 Tokyo, Japan Exhibition – Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan (Sponsored by the Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan, KBS Tokyo Bureau, Central Headquarters of the Korean Women’s Association in Japan, and Central Headquarters of the Japan-Korea Women’s Friendship Association)
2011 Nikko City, Japan Exhibition – Nikko Toshogu (UNESCO-listed) Art Museum – First foreigner
(Sponsored by Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Tochigi Prefecture, Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan, Tochigi Prefecture Japan-Korea Friendship Association, and Tochigi Prefecture Japan-Korea Women's Friendship Association)
2013 Seoul Arts Center Exhibition
2013 Kumamoto City, Japan Exhibition – Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art Main Building (First and only invitational exhibition for foreign artists)
(Sponsored by Kumamoto Prefecture, Kumamoto City, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Fukuoka, Kumamoto Prefecture Japan-Korea Friendship Association, and NHK Kumamoto Broadcasting Station)
2022 Tokyo Exhibition - Gallery MI, Cultural Center, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan
(Sponsored by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan, the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan, and the Central Association of Japan-Korea Friendship)
In addition to this, numerous exhibitions for domestic and international friendly cultural exchanges

[ Award ]

1986 Certificate of Appreciation (Development of Traditional Crafts) – Korea Arts Council
1987 International Art Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition Gold Medal (Crafts Division) – International Art Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition Committee
1990 Certificate of Appreciation (Craft Culture Development Sector) – Japan-China-Korea Art and Culture Exchange Association
1991 Hanyang Art and Culture Award (Crafts Category) - Ministry of Culture and Information Registered No. 411 Hanyang Artists Association
1993 Plaque of Appreciation – Daejeon International Expo Committee (Permanent Exhibition in the Peace and Friendship Pavilion) – Reception of State Guests
2002 Certificate of Appreciation – Cultural Center of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan, Organizing Committee of the Korea-Japan World Cup in Yokohama, Japan
2004 Certificate of Appreciation – Selection of Work for Entry into the Imperial Palace (Governor of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan)
2008 8th Proud Korean Award (Traditional Crafts Category) – Korean Journalists Association
2011 Certificate of Appreciation – Contribution to Korea-Japan Cultural Exchange and Friendship (Nikko Toshogu)
2021 Agency for Cultural Affairs Minister's Award (Shunichi Tokura) – Agency for Cultural Affairs
In addition, numerous awards from various prefectures, cities, and media organizations in Korea and Japan.