1. Briefly introduce Seonghyup.

Seonghyup is a company that develops tourism and culture related handmade craft products by integrating modern technology with traditional craft techniques, based on mother-of-pearl lacquerware. With the brand name Onnuri, we showcase mother-of-pearl products in various sales channels, including online and offline stores, museum shops, the Korea Heritage Agency (shops within palaces), and recently, even at Cheongwadae Sarangchae.

2. What inspired you to develop a tumbler with the beautiful designs from mother-of-pearl lacquerware?

Famous tumbler brands like Starbucks and Stanley are not simply useful "cups" but have become ‘design items’ that reflect individual personalities. Existing mother-of-pearl tumblers with traditional patterns mostly used black and white bases with mother-of-pearl overlay. None of them used traditional colors. Therefore, we developed a design item that blends traditional and modern aesthetics, using the five traditional colors and mother-of-pearl to appear like a painting.

3. What aspect did you focus on the most while developing the product?

Due to the cylindrical shape of the product, there is a finite space where the mother-of-pearl can be placed. We used pine and magnolia to emphasize the beauty of Korea within that constraint. Additionally, we applied colors (lacquer markings) to highlight the mother-of-pearl decoration. We strived to ensure a more refined finish since handcraft may not produce identical result products.

4. It seems like there were many challenges during the production process for similar reasons.

Mother-of-pearl lacquerware does not dry properly in humid conditions, such as rainy days or summer weather, which causes us a struggle with time. The process of carefully mixing inks and dyes is quite intricate, resulting in trial and error. Repeated layers of lacquer and sanding often led to issues like mother-of-pearl detachment or scratches which made production challenging. However, through continuous efforts to create a high-quality product that showcases the unique characteristics of mother-of-pearl lacquerware, we have gained a better understanding of the materials which enabled us to complete the tumbler you see today.

5. What was the most memorable moment during the contest?

I remember the anxiety of going through each stage of the evaluation, and the joy I felt upon hearing the contest results. While preparing for various other competitions, I put in a lot of effort in product development and production, but I had never invested as much passion and time as I did for this contest. Perhaps that is why winning an award in this contest feels even more special. I want to remember this achievement for a long time.

6. What are your future plans and goals?

With the desire to share special everyday moments through beautiful mother-of-pearl lacquerware, we plan to continue developing outstanding products. While there was a time when mother-of-pearl was seen as an old-fashioned luxury, it is now being used as an attractive design element. In that context, I hope our tumbler will be adored by people of all ages, foreign and domestic, as a product that conveys elegance, convenience and beauty of Korean craftwork, and a product that is not excessive but enough to promote style.