The 1st Generation Ceramic Artist

'Bun-Chung' LEE Sang Moon

1947, Born in Busan

1965-1975, Had worked for Buddhist temples to build Buddha statues and to the paint alter portraits of Buddha by using Dancheong technique (Korean traditional multicolored paintwork on wooden buildings)

1975-2005, Initiation into the world of the art of pottery

The 2nd Generation Ceramic Artists

All three artists are the sons of 'Bun-Chung' LEE Sang Moon.

1st son: 'A-An' LEE Seung Min

2018, Korea's Best Skilled Technician (appointed by Ministry of Employment and Labor)

2020, Busan Craft Master (appointed by Busan City)

2nd son: LEE Jong Min

3rd son: LEE Young Min

Solo & Invitational Exhibitions

1992 Lee Sang-moon Ceramic Exhibition, Busan Ilbo Gallery, Busan, Korea

1997 Buncheongdang Lee Sang-moon Ceramic Exhibition, Busan International Newspaper Gallery, Busan, Korea

2002 Three Generations of Buncheong Lee Sang-moon Invitational Exhibition, Geumjeong Cultural Center, Busan, Korea

2002 Sanseong Ceramics Tableware Exhibition, Geumjeong Cultural Center, Busan, Korea

2005 The First Autumn Story, Sanseong Ceramics Hall, Busan, Korea

2006 The Second Autumn Story, Sanseong Ceramics Hall, Busan, Korea

2006 Invitational Exhibition in Commemoration of Hadaimado Cultural Center, Hadaimado, Japan

2008 Aan Lee Seung-min Ceramics Exhibition, Haeundae One Gallery, Busan, Korea

2010 Invitational Exhibition Celebrating the 1st Anniversary of Korean Cultural Center Yotsuya, Tokyo, Japan

2011 Aan Lee Seung-min Ceramics Exhibition, Namoo Art Gallery (Opening Exhibition), Busan, Korea

2012 Sanseong Ceramics Invitational Exhibition, Korea Art Museum, Busan, Korea

2013 The 2nd International Form & Design Exhibition (Invited Artist)

2017 Invitational Exhibition at the Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany, Honorary Consulate Hall, Busan, Korea / German Building

Group & Curated Exhibitions

1990 Poetry and Ceramics: A Collaborative Exhibition, Busan Museum, Busan, Korea

2001 The Beauty of Ceramics in Everyday Life – Founding Exhibition of Dohweck Ceramic Artists, Taehwa Department Store Gallery, Busan, Korea

2001 Woom Ceramic Artists’ Exhibition 2001, Busan City Hall, Busan, Korea

2001 1st Alumni Exhibition of the Dept. of Industrial Design, Green Gallery, Yangsan College, Yangsan, Korea

2001 28th Yeol Art Exhibition – Alumni Invitational (Ceramics), Busan Design High School, Busan, Korea

2002 Dohweck Ceramic Artists’ Exhibition, Geumjeong Cultural Center, Busan, Korea

2002 Dohweck Ceramic Artists’ Exhibition, Korea Craft Promotion Foundation, Insa-dong, Seoul, Korea

2002 Yeol Ceramic Artists’ Exhibition, Busan City Hall Gallery, Busan, Korea

2003 5th Dohweck Ceramic Artists’ Tea Bowl Exhibition, Lotte Gallery, Busan, Korea

2003 Autumn Ceramics Exhibition, Curated by Lotte Gallery, Busan, Korea

2005 Heukmaek Exhibition (Spirit of Clay), Geumjeong Cultural Center, Busan, Korea

2006 Heukmaek Exhibition (Spirit of Clay), Geumjeong Cultural Center, Busan, Korea

2010 Modern Buddhist Art Exhibition, Jogyesa Temple Namoo Gallery, Seoul, Korea

2013 26th Yeol Ceramic Artists’ Exhibition, Yoonsul Art Museum, Gimhae Arts and Sports Center, Gimhae, Korea

2016 29th Yeol Ceramic Artists’ Exhibition, National Museum of Korea Gimhae Branch, Gimhae, Korea

2017 30th Yeol Ceramic Artists’ Exhibition, Gimhae Public Library, Gimhae, Korea

2018 31st Yeol Ceramic Artists’ Exhibition, BEXCO, Busan, Korea

2018 Invitational Exhibition of Outstanding Korean Artists, Italy

2018 Return Exhibition of Korean Outstanding Artists, Ro-eun Gallery, Mokdong Yechon Center, Seoul, Korea

2019 Korean Ssalbal (Rice Bowl) Exhibition, Zhushan East Gallery, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, China

2019 Korean Ssalbal (Rice Bowl) Exhibition, Northeast Asia Culture & Art Expo (Korea Pavilion), Harbin, China

1991–1992 Gold Prize, Busan Regional Skills Competition – Ceramics, Busan, Korea

1994 Selected Artist, 20th Busan Art Exhibition, Busan, Korea

2005 Finalist, 35th Korea Craft Competition (Busan Preliminary), Busan, Korea

2007 Finalist, 37th Korea Craft Competition (Busan Preliminary), Busan, Korea

2008 Special Selection, National Mungyeong Tea Bowl Competition, Mungyeong, Korea

2009 Bronze Prize, National Mungyeong Tea Bowl Competition, Mungyeong, Korea

2009 Finalist, 39th Korea Craft Competition (Busan Preliminary), Busan, Korea

2011 Honorable Mention, National Buncheong Ceramics Competition, Korea

2012 Bronze Prize, 42nd Korea Craft Competition (Busan Preliminary), Busan, Korea

2012 Special Award, 42nd Korea Craft Competition (National), Seoul, Korea

2012 Gold Prize, National Buncheong Ceramics Competition, Korea

2012 Finalist, 1st KDB Traditional Craft Industry Competition, Korea

2013 Special Award, 7th Korea Fine Arts Exhibition (Busan Division), Busan, Korea

2013 Special Selection, 7th Korea Fine Arts Exhibition (Busan Division), Busan, Korea

2013 Finalist, 4th National Buncheong Ceramics Exhibition, Korea

2014 Excellence Prize, 8th Korea Fine Arts Exhibition (Busan Division), Busan, Korea

2014 Finalist, 44th Korea Craft Competition (Busan Preliminary), Busan, Korea

2014 Finalist, 1st Gyeongnam Tea Bowl National Competition, Korea

2015 Finalist & Special Selection, 2nd Gyeongnam Tea Bowl National Competition, Korea

2016 Special Award, 46th Korea Craft Competition (Busan Preliminary), Busan, Korea

2016 Gold Prize, 3rd Gyeongnam Tea Bowl National Competition, Korea

2016 Special Selection, 46th Korea Craft Competition (National Final – Seoul), Seoul, Korea

2017 Special Award & Finalist, Gimhae National Tea Bowl Competition, Gimhae, Korea

2017 Honorable Mention, National Mungyeong Tea Bowl Competition, Mungyeong, Korea

2017 Silver Prize, 47th Korea Craft Competition (Busan Preliminary), Busan, Korea

2017 Special Selection, 30th Seongsan National Art Competition, Korea

2017 Special Selection & Finalist (×2), 4th Gyeongnam Tea Bowl National Competition, Korea

2018 Gold Prize, National Mungyeong Tea Bowl Competition, Mungyeong, Korea

2018 Special Selection, 48th Korea Craft Competition (Busan Preliminary), Busan, Korea

2018 Special Selection, 46th Korea Craft Competition (National Final – Seoul), Seoul, Korea

2018 Outstanding Korean Artist Award, Milan Rossi Invitational, Milan, Italy

2019 Honorable Mention, National Mungyeong Tea Bowl Competition, Mungyeong, Korea

2019 Finalist, Gyeongnam Tea Bowl National Competition, Korea

2019 Finalist, 10th Korea Buncheong Ceramic Exhibition, Korea

2019 Excellence Prize, 49th Korea Craft Competition (Busan Preliminary), Busan, Korea

2019 Special Selection, 49th Korea Craft Competition (National Final – Seoul), Seoul, Korea

2019 Special Selection, 2nd National Craft Culture Product Competition (Busan), Busan, Korea

1993 Recipient, Youth Technical Merit Award – Busan MBC

2005 Appointed Instructor, Busan Design High School

2006 Commendation, Korea Federation of Handicraft Cooperatives

2011 Jury Member, Korea Traditional Craft Industry Promotion Association

2012 Jury Member, Korea Traditional Craft Industry Promotion Association

2012 Service Award, Korea Traditional Craft Industry Promotion Association

2012 Certificate of Appreciation, Busan Industrial Accident Disabled Association

2013 Certificate of Appreciation, Busan Industrial Accident Disabled Association

2014 Jury Member – Ceramics, Busan Skills Competition

2016 Commendation from the Mayor of Busan, via Busan Industrial Accident Disabled Association

2017 Jury Member – Ceramics, Busan Skills Competition

2017 Completed Craft & Design Business Education Program, Busan Region

2018 Merit Award, Busan Craft Cooperative Association

2018 Jury Member – Ceramics, Busan Skills Competition

2018  Korea's Best Skilled Technician (appointed by Ministry of Employment and Labor)

2019 Jury Member – Ceramics, Busan Skills Competition

2019 Jury Member, 54th National Skills Competition (Korea)

2019 Certificate of Appreciation, Korea Workers’ Compensation & Welfare Service (KCOMWEL)

2020  Busan Craft Master (appointed by Busan City)

1993 Featured on Busan MBC – Youth Award Segment

1997 Featured on PSB Human Documentary – Here’s the Person

2006 Featured on MBC Human Documentary – Between the Moments Part 3

2007 Featured on MBC Human Documentary Series – Between the Moments Part 2

2010 Featured on KBS Documentary Program – Family

2014 Featured on KBS Network Cham TV Program

2015 Featured on KBS Saengsaeng Today – People and the World Segment

1992 Gapsa Daenggi

1993 Photo Gyeongbuk – Gyeongbuk Ilbo

Oct 1996 Busan Ilbo – Life of Persons with Disabilities

Apr 1997 Kukje Shinmun – PSB Human Documentary: Ceramic Artist with a Disability Passing Down the Tradition

Jul 1997 JoongAng Ilbo – Culture Festival: Keeping the Family Tradition of Buncheong Ceramics Alive

Jul 1997 Kukje Shinmun – Perfect Reproduction of Joseon-era Buncheong Using Traditional Techniques

Apr 1998 Geumjeong Minbo – Arts & Culture: Searching for Ceramic Paper – Sanseong Ceramics

Aug 2000 Maison – In-depth Focus on Busan: Sanseong Ceramics

Jan 2001 Invitation to Art – Busan Cultural Center: Sanseong Ceramics Family

Jan 2001 Dongyang Culture Newspaper – Ceramic Family of Geumjeongsan Fortress Village, Busan

Mar 2001 Open Era – The Generous Life of the Sanseong Ceramics Family

Oct 2001 Weekly People – 10th Anniversary Issue: Sanseong Ceramics

Sep 2002 Busan Ilbo – Sanseong Ceramics Tableware Exhibition

Sep 2002 Monthly Food Journal – 25 Years with Clay: Sanseong Ceramics

Mar 2003 Busan Today – Artist Pilgrimage: Keeping the Family Buncheong Tradition – Sanseong Ceramics

Mar 2003 Maeil Financial – Artist Pilgrimage: Sanseong Ceramics

Apr 2003 Dongyang Culture Newspaper – Dohwaek Ceramic Members Exhibition

Mar 2004 Geumjeong News – Profile: A Ceramic Family Passing Down Tradition

Oct 2004 Busan Ilbo – Ceramic Experience with Underprivileged Children (Hosted by Geumjeong District Office)

Dec 2006 Geumjeong Minbo – Sanseong Ceramics Autumn Music Concert

2011 Sisa News Journal – Sanseong Ceramics: The Peak of Purity Connecting Tradition with Warmth

Mar 2012 Busan Ilbo – Promotion of Sanseong Ceramics Invitational Exhibition

Sep 2014 Dynamic Busan – Traditional Ceramics Experience: Filled with Warmth of Body and Mind

May 2015 Busan Culture Newspaper – From Sympathy to Empathy: Meeting the Sanseong Ceramics Artists

Oct 2020 Yonhap News – [Master Artisan Series] ⑮ Lee Seung-min: Master Ceramicist Combining Tradition and Modernity

1991  National skills qualification certificate: 2nd Level Craftsman Pottery Handicraft 

1995  Teacher's license to teach practical design skill

2017  Business education course for craft & design in Busan (hosted by KCDF) completed

Institutions where our ceramic artworks are preserved:

✦ The Holy Mother Dasan Tea Party Museum, Catholic Culture Research Institute, Busan, South Korea 

✦ Mungyeong Museum, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

✦ Korean Culture Center, Korean Embassy, Tokyo, Japan

✦ Korea Art Museum, South Korea

✦ Gimhae Buncheong Ceramics Museum, Gimhae, South Korea

✦ China National Tea Museum, Xihu District, Hangzhou, China 

✦ Tenfu Tea Museum, Zhangzhou, Fujian, China