The Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch is hosting a kiln tour to the Icheon area on Aug. 9 to introduce participants to the art of traditional Korean pottery making.

Two of the key ingredients in porcelain were kaolin and firewood, making the Gwangju area of Gyeonggi Province ― a region rich with kaolin ― a prime spot for pottery making.

The first stop of the tour will be at a rare traditional wood-fired kiln operated by Ji Soo-ku, who has taken on the craft of his late father, master potter Ji Sun-taik. Next, the tour will explore the process of pottery making at the kiln of Kim Jong-mook and then stop at a potter’s village to visit the kilns of Lee Un-ku, who specializes in making brown Bunchong ware.

Along with getting a tour of Kim Se-ryong’s studio where he carves and cuts blue porcelain, participants will have the opportunity to purchase traditionally designed onggi (kimchi jars).

The tour will leave from the Yongsan Post Office at 9 a.m. and return around 6:30 p.m. Participants can bring a packed lunch or buy a Korean-style lunch around the kiln and pottery villages.

Reservations must be made by Aug. 6. The cost of the tour is 40,000 won for members of the Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch or 48,000 won for nonmembers.

The registration form is available on raskb.com.

(dperez@heraldcorp.com)