Master tile maker Kim Chang-jae spent three years producing 80,000 tiles

National Intangible Cultural Heritage master Kim Chang-jae recently reflected on the three-year effort required to manually produce 80,000 floral-patterned end tiles for the Jeongjeon Hall of Jongmyo Shrine. Kim, the only person in Korea producing traditional handmade tiles, previously participated in the restoration of Sungnyemun Gate.

In Jangheung, Jeonnam, National Intangible Cultural Heritage master tile maker Kim Chang-jae met with a group at a dining table. This gathering, captured by TV CHOSUN's "Trot Kitchen: The Running Dinner Show," recorded the working processes and the time of patience involved in the national task of restoring Sungnyemun Gate.

36 Days for a Single Tile: Rebuilding Sungnyemun Gate

Kim Chang-jae, the only person in Korea who produces traditional handmade tiles, recalled the memories of the Sungnyemun Gate fire restoration. When the restoration work was underway after the national treasure Sungnyemun Gate was destroyed by fire, he participated in the project alongside his mentor, Han Yong-jun.

Completing a single traditional tile requires a total of 17 processes, a procedure that takes approximately 36 days. Kim shared the hardship of having to repeat this process nearly 34 times to create just one tile during the Sungnyemun Gate restoration. Because the work had to start over from the beginning if a tile was not produced correctly, years of grueling labor were required to achieve the best results.

His mentor, Han Yong-jun, who poured his efforts into the restoration work at the time, passed away only one month after participating in the completion ceremony due to health issues. Kim currently continues cultural heritage conservation work as a team with worker Kim Do-yeong, stating that he works with the mindset that the entire team is one "Daehwadan" (great group).

80,000 Roof Tiles for Jeongjeon Hall of Jongmyo Shrine: Three Years of Persistence

The results of Kim Chang-jae's work were introduced during the gathering. These included the dragon-patterned end tiles (maksae) used in the restoration of Sungnyemun Gate, as well as the recently produced floral-patterned end tiles created to produce 80,000 pieces for Jeongjeon Hall of Jongmyo Shrine.

It took approximately three years to produce the 80,000 end tiles for Jeongjeon Hall of Jongmyo Shrine. Due to the nature of tile making, which is 100% manual, years of persistence were required to complete tiles for such a massive cultural heritage site. Through the tiles he personally crafted, Kim revealed the weight of the task of carrying on tradition.

A Dinner with the Lifesaver of Jangheung

In addition to Kim Chang-jae, Kim Taek-hwan, who is called the "Superman" of the village, was present. Having worked for the post office for 37 years and traveling every corner of the village, he is a lifesaver who previously discovered and rescued young children trapped inside a collapsed house during a major typhoon. Kim stated that he treats the villagers like his own parents.

The dinner prepared for them featured dishes using local specialties from Jangheung. The meal included Yeonpotang (octopus soup), abalone grilled with charcoal scent, and Jeonggabok, which carries the meaning of bringing good fortune. Kim expressed satisfaction with the prepared food, stating that in his 60 years of life, he had never had such a meal.

Source: original video (YouTube)