Jeong: The Spirit of Korean Craft and Design

Edited by Hyo Jung Lee
Phaidon

Jeong: The Spirit of Korean Craft and Design, by Hyo Jung Lee, brings together objects and practices that trace Korean material culture across time. At its heart is the concept of jeong: a subtle bond made of care, memory and connection, running through both the act of making and the everyday use of things.

From ceramics to textiles, from furniture to contemporary creations, the book reveals an approach to design in which transformation does not break continuity, but renews it. Alongside works by established designers, it presents anonymous, familiar objects that preserve traces of life and use.

The book invites readers to look closely at materials, details and imperfections. It is precisely in these elements that an idea of design as relationship comes into view — between people, time and matter — continuing to evolve without losing its roots.