The Cheongju Craft Biennale. A Worldwide Celebration of Contemporary Craft. A Critical Review by Klimt02

The Biennale, which takes place within a former 120,000 m² tobacco factory built in 1940 and transformed into an iconic cultural space, offers a unique setting where tradition meets innovation. At the heart of Cheongju’s artistic life, this site also hosts the Craft Museum, cultural centres, and repurposed industrial spaces. It pays tribute to the region’s rich artisanal heritage while highlighting its power to inspire and create a better world by stimulating new forms of expression.

Each edition of the Cheongju International Craft Competition brings together approximately 100 South Korean and international artists, whether emerging, mid-career or established. They showcase their latest works, share their visions, and collectively reflect on the role of craft in today’s and tomorrow’s societies. The pieces exhibited, drawn from numerous countries, span a wide range of disciplines, including contemporary jewellery, textiles, sculptures, tableware, fashion accessories, functional objects, and furniture.


Thanks to its carefully curated and harmonious exhibition scenography, each work is presented to its full potential, offering visitors an immersive journey in a museum-like atmosphere. This year, the Biennale will run until October 15 2025 and invite exploration and leisurely wandering among a captivating diversity of creations, emphasising the importance of this event within the global craft community. 


Cheongju Craft Biennale Presentation Video, 2021


An Engaged Theme for 2025

This 13th edition of the Cheongju Biennale invites artists to explore the role of craft in a world undergoing transformation. This year’s theme highlights works that reflect current trends while imagining values that inspire a brighter future.

The organisers of the Cheongju International Craft Competition are seeking visionary creations that push the boundaries of craft and celebrate its impact on contemporary society and culture.


The conditions for participation are straightforward (and delightfully so):

• Free registration is available online in English or Korean.
• Minimum age: 18 years.
• Submitted works must have been created between 2023 and 2025.
• All mediums and techniques are welcome, with no thematic restrictions.
• Maximum dimensions: 150 x 150 x 150 cm (series are allowed within these limits).

The submission deadline is 2 May 2025, with the first-stage results to be posted on the Craft Biennale website on 4 June 2025. The results, determined by an international jury, will be announced on 31 July 2025. The works selected for display in the official exhibition catalogue, a beautiful publication that explains the edition's theme and includes each piece and its concept.


The prizes include:

• Grand Prize: 60,000,000 KRW (approx. €39,000), awarded last year to KO Hyejeong for "The Wishes".
• Gold Prize: 20,000,000 KRW.
• Silver Prize: 10,000,000 KRW. Awarded to two participants.
• Bronze Prize. Awarded to three participants.
• Citizen’s Choice Award. Awarded to one participant.
• Partnership Awards, Special Prizes, and Honourable Mentions for numerous other participants.
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*The prize money from the Grand to the Bronze prize includes the cost of acquiring the artwork that will make up the Biennale Collection. At the artist’s request, the work may be returned without receiving prize money.


Hye Jeong Ko. Object: The Wishes, 2023. Silver-plated brass. 50 × 50 × 40 cm. Grand Prize of the Cheongju International Craft Competition 2023.

Hong Jae-kyung. Brooches: Invisibility in visibility, 2023. 925 silver, red copper. Silver Prize of the Cheongju International Craft Competition 2023.


Jeong Dahye. Object: Horsehair-Comb Pattern, 2021. Grand Prize of the Cheongju International Craft Competition 2021.



More than just an exhibition that brought together leading figures such as Jieun Park, Karl Fritsch, Veronika Fabian, Jaiik Lee, Fumiko Goto and Ute Eitzenhöfer, the Cheongju Biennale also features diverse academic programmes, international workshops, and symposiums. It has become an international epicentre for innovation, excellence, and the exchange of diverse practices. This event unites artists, experts, and enthusiasts in a shared reflection: Craft is not merely a legacy but a creative response to the challenges of our time. It must continue to evolve, shaping our lives, societies, and cultures with relevance and meaning.


>> Ready to participate? Download the full and complete information on conditions, application process, schedule and awards  HERE 


Display at the Cheongju International Craft Competition 2021 with the year theme Tools for Conviviality.