The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister YU In Chon, MCST), in partnership with the Korea Craft & Design Foundation (President CHANG Dong Kwang, KCDF) hosted the Craft Trend Fair 2024 at COEX (Gangnam District, Seoul) from December 12 (Thursday)[1] to 15 (Sunday).

The Craft Trend Fair, now in its 19th year, serves as a platform to popularize Korea’s craft culture and strengthen the competitiveness of the craft industry by connecting craftspeople with consumers. Over the past three years, the fair has seen incredible growth, with on-site sales increasing from KRW 1.6 billion to KRW 2.5 billion and the number of visitors growing from 54,000 to 78,000, solidifying its position as Korea’s largest craft fair.

280 participants showcasing everyday craftwork that shines in people’s lives

This year, under the theme of “Extraordinary Objects that Shine in My Life”, the fair featured 280 participants, including craftspeople, craft studios, businesses, and art galleries. The participants showcased and sold a wide variety of craftwork from furniture, lighting, kitchenware, home and office supplies, fashion accessories to decorative items. The fair also featured a few dedicated zones: the Crafts Studio Zone showed outstanding work from 173 participants, including Arche and Studio Gogojang, highlighting the unique identities of their studios, brands, and businesses; the Crafts Mediation Zone featured high-quality craftwork from 18 culture and arts organizations such as the Korea Heritage Agency and the Korea Craft Museum in Cheongju; and the Emerging Craftsman Zone displayed creative and original works from 90 promising craftspeople.

In the special exhibition hall, visitors were able to explore several craftwork exhibits. Among them is the KCDF Partners Exhibition where companies such as Ottogi and House of Choi present craftwork under the theme of curry bowls and culinary traditions in Gyeongju; the Thematic Exhibition showcased craftwork that blends tradition and nature to highlight the beauty of the lines in Korean crafts; and the Invited Guests Exhibition focused on the distinct craft aesthetics of Japan, Italy, Taiwan, and Myanmar.

Continuous support for new craft market opportunities and visitor events

More than 600 Korean and international online and offline retailers, including The Hyundai and SSG, participated in the fair, providing diverse market expansion opportunities for crafts. In particular, a dedicated space for buyers was expected to promote on-site and export consultations, along with various outreach opportunities between key buyers and participants. After the fair, MCST plans to provide continued support for new market expansion through collaborations with partner companies.

On December 13, visitors were able to join diverse activities offering new insights into craftwork. For instance, special exhibition tours were provided by curators (Lee Jeong Eun from Yoomoo Lab, KIM Ye Seong from KCDF Gallery) and an interior designer (KWON Soon Bok from Magenta). Class 24, a reading program, was hosted by online bookstore Yes24,  and Craft Seminar featured a number of cultural figures and artists as speakers.

For more details on the Craft Trend Fair 2024, visit the official website (www.kcdf.kr/craftrendfair).