Why Hand-Forged Korean Bronze Tableware Is So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider

Bangjja yugi refers to traditional Korean tableware that’s hand-forged and made of bronze. Today, it’s less likely to be set out for everyday dinners than it is to be saved for special occasions, like official state dinners, or given as wedding gifts.

Its production requires multiple skilled workers overseen by a master craftsman, who judges the final shape and quality of each piece by eye. So, why is bangjja yugi so labor-intensive? And is that why it’s so expensive?

MORE SO EXPENSIVE VIDEOS:
Why Turkish Meerschaum Pipes Are So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider
Why Olympic Curling Stones Are So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider
Why Oboes Are So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider

------------------------------------------------------

#Bronzewear #SoExpensive #BusinessInsider

Business Insider tells you all you need to know about business, finance, tech, retail, and more.

Why Hand-Forged Korean Bronze Tableware Is So Expensive | So Expensive | Business Insider

[cablemagnets]

"Only skill and an experienced eye"
*Camera cuts into man with one eye*

Well played 😂

[alexaramachandran]

Imagine being the fanner in training and your only feature in the Business Insider video is messing up the product 😭

[tiffanylee]

This man is a legend! He is 96 and still working; a master of his craft. His work is definitely worth the price. Much respect to the older generation who dedicate their lives to traditional art.

[Marsontheearth]

WHAT he’s 96?! He doesn’t look it, that’s incredible. Shows how physical movement really keeps your body functional .

[tuomaspirinen]

This is how I want to be at 96, too: still with active and with vitality, doing what I love. No wonder he has been declared a living national treasure.

[Darkruby]

It is amazing how passionate and hard-working some people are in Japan or Korea. 70 years in bronze artisan craft? That is just absolutely crazy.

[jjk]

As a Korean American, it’s kinda cool seeing Why so expensive feature Korean arts after seeing so many Japanese arts. So many masters in the world for all sorts of products!

[junkim]

Bangjja Yuki used to be pretty much standard dining plate and bowls in Korea. It actually makes food taste better(It actually does), it holds heat or cold better. It is the best possible dish option for Korean cuisine, and that's why even to this date some high end traditional Korean restaurants use them.
Bangjja Yuki isn't just about color or material, but its hammering and forging method. It can't be made in factory by machine, but it needs to be manually hammered. If it is made in factory, without hammering process, then it is just called Yuki. There are several different branches of Bangjja Yuki in Korea, depending on the region, its method, process, ingredient ration.
Bangjja Yuki is now no where near as common as it used to be, and several main reasons are
1. Bangjja Yuki requires some management. After washing it, it needs to be all wiped out dry. And if you want to maintain its bright golden color at its best, ash of tree or powdered tile is needed to wipe its surface.
2. It's expensive. As you can see from the video, this art requires a lot of labor force, a very sophisticated skill and process, quite high percentage of failure in manufacturing process. Also, melting it, forging it, hammering it all need to be done in red hot temperature, often resulting in decrease in artisan's vision.
3. Japanese Empire, when it occupied Korea for 35 years, was on constant war with everyone, and they needed metal for wars. So what did they do? "Hey, look! Koreans use a lot of metal in their kitchen." (Koreans used metal chopstick, metal spoon, cast iron rice pot, and many other metal made things including Bangjja Yuki) "Why don't we just take those things (by force), and use them in our weapon factories?" And that's what they did. So by the time Korea got liberated, Bangjja Yuki was almost entirely gone in most Korean households, due to confiscation. And most Korean people were at extreme poverty after liberation, so they couldn't afford to buy it again.
But the art was not forgotten, and still there are many artisans, including the one in the video, still creating these beautiful things.
The real authentic, hand hammered Bangjja Yuki is very expensive. But its charm...its hand hammered surface gives such a beautiful sensation to your finger when you touch. And its golden color, shining at all directions from the very slightly unsmooth surface created by countless hammerings, brightens the food. It's a very special pieces of art, and I hope you will be able to experience one day in person.

[kpovgmw]

The same technique is used in India as well, completely traditional. But prices are very low as compared to what these people are selling. In India the problem is artisans are not at all respected for their work. Korea and Japan respect their artisans' hardwork and that's why products are expensive.

[DarkGT]

If there is one thing that they could modernize that will be the use of safety glasses.

[HKim]

Never understood the deal with bronze and fake bronze bowls in some Korean restaurants. Now, I know.
Also, I’m assuming that the cheap pots are replicas that the masses adopted?

[seriouslythink.]

I have them and they are so lovely. In design, color and the feel. The more usage deeper the colors are.

[SC-RGX]

I have one at home gifted from a family member who was traveling. The sheen and beauty of the hammer stokes can really be seen.

[sophiaisabelle]

The whole process looks dangerous but the people continue to persevere no matter what happens. Seems like they're all very passionate about what they do in their own lives.

[somerandomfella]

It's good how Business Insider is exposing these crafts to the world.

[colinm]

So the guy lost his eyes but nobody wears safety glasses that cost like 3 dollars? OSHA Screeching Intensifies

[tan_k]

After watching this, I am half tempted to give up my fibre internet connection and get a 28.8 dial up connection to pay my respect to old technology and the masters who crafted it.

[teoengchin]

You'd think someone who'd lost his eye while working would implement basic H&S ppe rules like safety glasses

[cryptothns]

The perfect analogy of an experienced EYE. That eye has so much experience literally.

[GMSqueaky]

96 years old?! He doesn't look older than 50! He really is a living legend!