Renowned artist Kim Young-jun, who gained worldwide attention for creating the "Lacquered Papal Chair" during Pope Francis's visit to Korea in 2014, will be giving a lecture in Jeonju.

The Jeonju Cultural Foundation (CEO Choi Rak-gi) is organizing a special cultural event that combines the aesthetics of traditional crafts with a modern sensibility. The event, titled "Dialogue with Artist Kim Young-jun," will be held on the 11th at the open courtyard on the basement floor of the Eojin Museum, in connection with the exhibition "The Light of a Thousand Years, Embracing the Royal Treasures."

This event, which will feature a reinterpretation of the royal treasures symbolizing the authority of the Joseon Dynasty using the traditional lacquerware technique, provides a valuable opportunity to directly experience the artistic world of Kim Young-jun, a globally recognized craftsman. The event, focusing on the succession and modernization of traditional crafts, is expected to be attended by around 30 figures from the cultural and arts industry and collaborating organizations.

The exhibition "The Light of a Thousand Years, Embracing the Royal Treasures" is divided into two themes. The first theme, "The King's Table," showcases the royal treasures in the form of lacquerware (April 24 - August 31), while the second theme introduces the representative works of Kim, who has gained global recognition for reinterpreting traditional techniques in a modern context (July 1 - July 10).

The "Dialogue with Artist Kim Young-jun" will begin with an introduction by the host and guests, followed by a welcome speech from the Mayor of Jeonju, a congratulatory message from Ven. Songgwangsa Abbot, an introduction to Kim Young-jun's artistic background and exhibition explanation by Director Shim Su-ji of the Kim Young-jun Lacquer Art Museum. This will be followed by Kim's keynote speech on the theme "The Light of a Thousand Years, Embracing the Future" and a question-and-answer session.

Kim gained global attention for creating the "Lacquered Papal Chair" during Pope Francis's visit in 2014 and garnered fame for designing iPhone cases for Steve Jobs in 2009. In 2008, he was also known for creating an X-BOX console requested as a.gif'>t for former President Lee Myung-bak from Bill Gates.

His works have been recognized for their artistic and symbolic value, being collected by world leaders from 30 countries such as Bill Gates, Hillary Clinton, and Warren Buffet. He has expanded the traditional art of lacquerware, which was limited to traditional arts, into various fields such as mobile phones, cosmetics cases, hotel interiors, luxury vehicles, cruise ships, and first-class cabins on airplanes.

In 2024, he appeared on CNN's "Great Big Story," and in 2022, he was featured as the protagonist in a joint Korean-Italian documentary. Some of his major exhibition experiences include a solo exhibition at the opening of the Korean Cultural Center in Canada (2016), being the invited artist at the PyeongChang Biennale (2015), and solo exhibitions at the Korean Cultural Center in New York and an invited exhibition at Bongeunsa Temple.

Choi Rak-gi, CEO of the Jeonju Cultural Foundation, stated, "We have organized this event to share with the citizens the process of the material deeply rooted in tradition, such as lacquerware, being reborn as a global artistic language," adding, "It will be an opportunity to elevate the status of regional craft culture."