When did people start making and using porcelain in Korea?
The first porcelain was made in Korea sometime in the late tenth century during the early days of the Goryeo Dynasty. At that time, it is said that Wuyue - an independent coastal kingdom of the tenth century located in present-day Zhejiang Province, China - was well-known for making excellent celadon, and amassed great wealth by selling celadons throughout China. However, when Wuyue was destroyed by China’s Song Dynasty around 978, its celadon craftsmen dispersed around East Asia. Some of them became naturalized citizens of Goryeo and passed down their celadon and white porcelain techniques to Goryeo’s potters. From then on, the Goryeo Dynasty produced and used solid and beautifully-colored celadon and white porcelain made of stone powder.

The circumstances in which porcelain making techniques were transmitted from China to Korea were revealed by archeological investigations and artifacts discovered at the Celadon and White Porcelain Kiln Site in Bangsan-dong of Siheung in Gyeonggi Province, and the Kiln Site in Wonsan-ri of Baecheon in South Hwanghae Province. As you can see in the photo, the Yuezhou celadon kiln site in Silongkou, Zhejiang, China on the left and the kiln site in Bangsan-dong, Siheung on the right share similar features including a 40m-long tunnel and kiln walls made of bricks. The brick kiln has a unique structure unlike those of Korea, and clearly shows the influence of Yuezhou celadon of China.