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The signing ceremony of agreement for collaboration between the Charhar Institute and Cheongju City, a city with a long history and located in the center of the Republic of Korea (ROK), was held in Cheongju City on October 8th. Han Fangming, Chairman of the Charhar Institute, signed the collaboration agreement with Cho Gil-hyeong, Mayor of Cheongju City.
Cho Gil-hyeong (R), Mayor of Cheongju City, presents a Certificate of Thanks to Han Fangming (L) for his contribution to the 2019 Cheongju Craft Biennale.
Han Fangming (2nd, L), Chairman of the Charhar Institute, signs the collaboration agreement with Cho Gil-hyeong (2nd, R), Mayor of Cheongju City.
The Certificate of Thanks
According to the agreement, the two sides will collaborate on a variety of international activities held in Cheongju City, such as the well-known Cheongju Craft Biennale, and on promoting non-governmental exchanges in different fields, including economy, culture, art, tourism, sports as well as youth development. The Culture and Peace Committee of the Charhar Institute will carry out relevant collaboration activities with Cheongju City.
This year’s Cheongju Craft Biennale kicked off the same day. Han Fangming attended the opening ceremony of the Biennale and city Mayor Cho Gil-hyeong presented a Certificate of Thanks to Han Fangming for his contribution to this Biennale.
Han Fangming (L) exchanges gifts with Cho Gil-hyeong, Mayor of Cheongju City.
Chinese internationally well-known artists Yue Minjun, Fang Lijun, and Cui Yu, a newly arising young sculptor known for excellent sculpture works, who participated in the Biennale with their works, also attended the opening ceremony.
The night before the opening ceremony of the Biennale, Kim Jung-sook, wife of ROK’s President Moon Jae-in, attended a celebration gala and also visited the Biennale afterwards.
The Cheongju Craft Biennale, which was launched in 1999, aims to break the concept barrier set by traditional arts and crafts, introduce to the public the development trend of arts and crafts in the world, and build up a platform for extensive communication between different countries. It is not only one of the most important art events in Korea, but also an event with huge worldwide influence.
Cheongju City, which is located in the center of ROK and only 128 kilometers away from Seoul, is a place with well-equipped land and water transportation. It enjoys unique advantages in inheriting and developing Korean traditional crafts. Since ancient times, it has been not only the production and manufacturing center of the Korean traditional handicraft industry, Korean paper and Korean tablewares, but also the place where the ancient metal movable type printing was created.
At the opening ceremony of the 2019 Cheongju Craft Biennale.
Copy Editor: Zhu Yanhong