Editor’s Note
This article highlights a practical mentoring initiative by the Seoul Jewelry Support Center, featuring Master Craftsman Oh Hyo-geun. It underscores efforts to preserve and transmit specialized craftsmanship within the jewelry industry.
Seoul — (NewsWire) — The Seoul Jewelry Support Center (Center Director Nam Kyung-joo) announced on the 13th that it held a practical mentoring lecture titled ‘A Comprehensive Look at the Jewelry Manufacturing Process,’ featuring Master Craftsman Oh Hyo-geun, a master of jewelry and precious metal crafts in South Korea, Chairman of the Korea Jewelry Industry Association Federation, and Chairman of the Korea Jewelry Industry Promotion Foundation.
During the ‘A Comprehensive Look at the Jewelry Manufacturing Process’ practical mentoring session held at the Seoul Jewelry Support Center on August 7, Master Craftsman Oh Hyo-geun explained the jewelry manufacturing process to participants. The lecture covered the entire process from design to casting, finishing, plating, and shipping, offering practical advice based on field experience.
The mentoring classroom operated by the Seoul Jewelry Support Center collects participant feedback through anonymous surveys. The mentoring lecture held on August 7 received overwhelmingly positive responses, with comments such as, ‘It was really beneficial as the lecture was based on vivid field experiences,’ and ‘I was worried I wouldn’t get a turn due to many field questions, but I’m grateful they even opened an impromptu open chat room.’ The center noted that such unanimous satisfaction is unusual.
Master Craftsman Oh Hyo-geun is the 14th generation Master Craftsman of Jewelry in South Korea, a figure who has contributed to industry development for decades based on field experience and expertise. He currently serves as Chairman of the Korea Jewelry Industry Association Federation and Chairman of the Korea Jewelry Industry Promotion Foundation. As the CEO of Geumbuchia, a century-old small artisan enterprise, he directly manages a jewelry manufacturing company.
The Korea Jewelry Industry Promotion Foundation, led by Master Oh, is a non-profit corporation established in 2014 by 15 functional groups and institutions to enhance the global competitiveness of the jewelry industry. It is currently entrusted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to operate the Seoul Jewelry Support Center.
This mentoring lecture was planned in response to requests from entrepreneurs and small business owners who expressed a need for ‘practical mentoring covering the entire manufacturing process.’ It covered the full jewelry manufacturing process from design to casting, finishing, plating, and shipping. Practical, solution-oriented advice on variables and problem-solving encountered during product planning and development was provided, garnering a highly positive response. The lecture attracted such high interest that all seats were filled within 5 minutes of registration opening. That same afternoon, Representative Tax Accountant Chae Ki-dong from Heemang Tax Accounting Office provided useful information focusing on tax structures and practical cases at each stage of business growth.
The 2025 Mentoring Classroom operates twice weekly on Thursday mornings and afternoons in small groups, offering highly effective education based on demand-driven topics. Applications are available through the Seoul Jewelry Support Center’s official website and KakaoTalk channel. To prevent random applications and no-shows, announcement dates and registration dates are separated. Adding the ‘Seoul Jewelry Support Center Building 1’ channel on KakaoTalk allows users to receive lecture applications and various center news.