£50.00
Jeong: The Spirit of Korean Craft and Design
By Hyo Jung Lee, with essays by Teo Yang, Beth McKillop, & J Kathryn Hong
The first book to explore the full scope and beauty of Korean design – from traditional craft to celebrated contemporary creations.
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Characterised by a unique blend of tradition and innovation, and by a focus on sustainability and efficiency, Korean design is recognized for its creativity, quality, and beauty. Jeong: The Spirit of Korean Craft and Design is the first book to present an immersive visual exploration of the country’s fascinating craft and design scene to an international audience.
A Korean concept with no direct translation in English, jeong conveys a deep affection, emotional connection, and a sense of attachment that develops over time through shared experiences, care, and familiarity. In the context of craft and design, jeong is revealed through attention to detail and the profound connection between maker, object and user.
This elegant volume presents 175 inspiring and important objects, from anonymous folk crafts to celebrated masterpieces, including lacquerware, ceramics, embroidery, furniture, textiles and more. Each illustrated with a striking full-page image, featured pieces include traditional moon jars, intricately woven baskets, delicate textiles, and cutting-edge contemporary furniture.
Printed on tactile craft paper and stitch-bound in traditional Korean style, the book is itself a stunning object that invites exploration. Design-obsessed readers will also find in-depth essays by contemporary Korean design prodigy Teo Yang; curator Beth McKillop; and J Kathryn Hong, Chairperson of the Arumjigi Foundation in Seoul.
This special book reveals the spirit and sensibility of jeong to readers around the world.
Hyo Jung Lee is a Korean-born graphic designer based in London. In 2020, she founded the Korean Craft and Design digital platform, through which she has facilitated dialogues between Korean and international designers to explore how leading creatives draw inspiration from Korea’s craft culture. She has spent her career working with international branding agencies and is currently at Pentagram.
Teo Yang is the founder of Seoul-based Teo Yang Studio, known for designing commercial and high-end residential projects and creative collaborations with international luxury brands. His studio earned the prestigious AD100 award from Architectural Digest in 2022 and was shortlisted for Dezeen’s Interior Designer of the Year award in 2024. Teo Yang has also launched his own furniture brand Eastern Edition and skincare brand EATH Library.
Beth McKillop was formerly curator of Chinese and Korean collections at the British Library and Deputy Director of the Victoria & Albert Museum (2011-2016), where she is currently a senior research fellow. She was president of the Oriental Ceramic Society from 2018-2021 and co-authored Precious beyond Measure: A History of Korean Ceramics published in 2024.
Since 2013 J Kathryn Hong has served as the Chief Creative Officer of Onjium, guiding research and dissemination efforts focused on Korea’s traditional culture of food, clothing, and housing. In 2025, she was appointed Chairperson of the Arumjigi Foundation – a non-profit private organisation that showcases the beauty and values of traditional Korean culture.
Phaidon
Phaidon is the premier global publisher of the creative arts, working with the world’s most influential authors to produce innovative books on art, photography, design, architecture, fashion, food, and travel, and illustrated books for children. Phaidon has a long and distinguished history as an art-book publisher with over 1,500 titles in print.
The company was founded in Vienna in 1923 by Dr Béla Horovitz and Ludwig Goldscheider. Horovitz named the company Phaidon in reference to Phaedo, a Greek philosopher and pupil of Socrates, to acknowledge his love of classical culture. Horovitz created quality books at an affordable price while Goldscheider contributed elegant layouts and handsome production.
The 1970s saw a great expansion in the number of staff employed by Phaidon and the number of titles it published. Like many other publishers at the time, Phaidon diversified into a range of subject areas and began to buy-in titles from publishers abroad. In October 2012, Phaidon came under new ownership and its new senior management team began the task of growing the company for the long term as the world’s leading publisher of books in the visual arts, food, and children’s markets.
Publishing successes in subsequent years expanded the growing art program to include books made in collaboration with the global superstar Rihanna, NIKE, photographer Annie Leibovitz, fashion designer Sir Paul Smith, the streetwear brand Supreme, and Cecily Brown, one of many cutting-edge artists in the company’s iconic Contemporary Artists Series. More recently, Phaidon has successfully added interior design to its core publishing categories.
Phaidon’s beautiful illustrated books are treasured worldwide for their outstanding content and award-winning production, and feature the finest creative work from leading innovators in all areas of the arts, architecture, design, photography, interior design, travel, and food.
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