Q WHAT IS HANNOT CO., LTD.?

It’s a specialized Brass manufacturer and the premium brand of Kim Gyeongsu Yeojuugigongbang (Kim’s Brassware). I use the traditional Korean brassware techniques that have been passed down through three generations. The company’s name, Hannot, means Hangugui Not (Korean Brassware), and it was named to vitalize Korea’s beautiful traditional culture and carry world-famous brassware-casting technology. Nowadays, it’s hard to find craft shops manufacturing brassware with the laborious traditional methods. You mostly just find cheap, mass-produced products.In contrast, Hannot manufactures brassware by hand and guarantees genuine craftsmanship. Based on the philosophy that brassware must be infused with the spirit of craftsmanship, we merge modern designs with traditional methods. We produce brassware that is beautiful, practical, and well suited to any dining table.

Q IT’S INTRIGUING THAT YOU WEREN’T FOCUSED ON YEOJU RICE BUT ITS DISH.

Yeoju is well known for cultivating superior rice from the fertile earth and making various traditional rice wines. We wanted to create something reminiscent of our ancestors’ frugal lifestyle and make the experience of drinking a cup of Yeoju rice wine even more exhilarating. That’s how we decided to create the Gourd-shaped copper bowl for Makgeolli—a product that makes one nostalgic for rice farming and the pyojubak.

Q WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS?

Shaping it like a pyojubak is the most critical part. The design has to look like a pyojubak, not just a makgeolli bowl with a handle. The alloy ratio is 78% copper and 22% tin, and it’s a bit heavy because it’s a brass casting. The handle is made by cutting and trimming the edges with a blade, so balance is important too.

Q HOW DID YOU JOIN THE CONTEST?

Because our workshop is the largest in Korea, I’ve been proud of our techniques and designs. I’ve never doubted that our products are the best anywhere and at any time. We don’t just stop and keep studying how to develop new designs. We wanted to validate our pride objectively, and we were exhilarated that our first entry to receive such a high grade.

Q DID YOU MAKE ANY IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH THIS CONTEST?

We know that our product has to be the perfect Korean souvenir or present. That’s why we’ve studied the types of packaging materials and boxes that will go well with it.

Q WHICH ADVICE FROM THE JUDGES WAS THE MOST HELPFUL?

Actually, we submitted a sample for the physical review when we joined the contest. The problem was that the sample didn’t match the expectations of the trial and error process. A judge held the handle and immediately noticed a heavy part that pulled the cup to the ground. We addressed this issue in the manufacturing process.

Q ANY FUTURE PLANS?

We plan to advertise our Gourd-shaped copper bowl for Makgeolli through the headquarters’ social networking service (SNS), a broadcasting sponsorship, craft exhibition, online and off-line distribution, and sales. We’re also planning to release various modern brassware designs with regional characteristics.