△ Photo: Poster for the “Craft On Live; Market-Able” program

The Department of Ceramic Arts and the Department of Metal Arts at the College of Fine Arts, Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul), have completed the practical training phase of the “2026 Craft Professional Training Program (Practical and Advanced) Planning and Operation Project” and will begin the advanced training phase this coming October.

Hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, this project was established to cultivate professionals in the fields of planning, education, and distribution who connect craftmakers, consumers, and the market, in response to the diversification of demand for craft culture and the increasing specialization of related professions. Kookmin University was selected as an implementing institution this year and is operating the “CRAFT ON LIVE; MARKET-ABLE” program.

Kookmin University recruited participants from June 12 to 26 and will conduct practical training from July 18 to September 19. Following this, advanced training will be held from October 10 to December 5, during which participants will apply what they learned in the practical course to the planning and execution of actual projects.

In particular, the advanced training focuses on refining participants’ expertise in specific fields, such as craft curators (exhibition and cultural content planning), craft merchandisers (product and distribution planning), and craft educators (education and program planning). The program is designed to help participants develop projects based on the theory and hands-on experience gained during the practical training, while enhancing the quality of their plans and their practical applicability through expert mentoring.

The program will feature approximately 30 external industry professionals, along with seven faculty members: Professors Park Jungwon and Ahn Jung Hyun from the Department of Ceramic Arts; Professors Hyun Jiyeon and Lee Sungyeoul from the Department of Metal Arts; Professor Myung Yoonkyung from the Department of Visual Design; Adjunct Professor Jung Mi Seong from the Department of Ceramic Arts; and Adjunct Professor Choi yunjung from the Department of Metal Arts. Kookmin University has structured the curriculum to ensure a seamless progression from practical courses to advanced courses by linking the university’s expertise in craft education with the experience of industry professionals.

Kookmin University’s College of Fine Arts has accumulated educational, research, and production capabilities in the field of crafts over the past 50 years and is continuing the program this year based on its experience operating the “Crafts Individual Workforce Training Project” in 2021 and 2022 and the “Crafts Professional Workforce Training Project” in 2025.

An official from Kookmin University stated, “While the practical training was a process for understanding the planning, education, and distribution structures of the craft industry as well as the field itself, the advanced training beginning in October is a stage where participants can translate the experience they have accumulated into actual projects.” The official added, “We plan to support participants in developing their individual expertise more concretely through field-specific mentoring and project execution.”