Onggi Pottery Village In Ulsan, South Korea

Have you already noticed the huge amount of earthenware pots spread all around Korea? You must have – they are impossible not to notice. In the outskirts of Ulsan there is even a whole village dedicated to these onggi pottery pots, the Oegosan Onggi Pottery Village. These posts are mainly used to store kimchi and sauces, like soy sauce, hot pepper paste and brown bean paste. In winter these kind of urns were buried underground to store a whole range of fermented vegetable. Read on to find out more about this Onggi Pottery village in Ulsan, South Korea.

Ulsan is a city located in the southeastern part of South Korea, known for its industrial significance and scenic beauty. It is the seventh-largest metropolitan area in the country, with a population of over 1.1 million people. Ulsan is home to the world’s largest automobile assembly plant owned by Hyundai Motors, as well as the world’s largest shipyard owned by Hyundai Heavy Industries. The city is also renowned for its natural beauty, with stunning beaches and national parks, such as the Jangsaengpo Whale Museum and Taehwa River Grand Park, attracting both locals and tourists. Ulsan is a significant economic hub of South Korea, and its dynamic industries and natural attractions make it an exciting destination for visitors from all over the world.

Quick Facts About The Onggi Pottery Village

Ulsan Onggi Pottery Village is a historic site located in the city of Ulsan, South Korea, that has been producing traditional Korean pottery for over 500 years. The village is home to a vibrant community of artisans who use traditional techniques to create beautiful and functional pottery items such as jars, bowls, and pots, which are essential for Korean cuisine. Onggi pottery is made using locally sourced clay, which is carefully crafted by skilled potters using a unique firing technique that has been passed down through generations. The village attracts visitors from all over the world who come to learn about the rich cultural heritage of Korea and experience the unique beauty of Onggi pottery.

• The Onngi Pot Village in Ulsan is still the largest producer of the traditional Korean earthenware in Korea!
• In the village is an Onggi Academy which runs all sorts of activity programs and cultivates professional artisans.
• There is an over 2 meters high onggi pottery sculpture which was recognized in 2011 by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Korean onggi pots are traditional earthenware vessels that have been used for centuries in Korea for storing and fermenting food. These pots are typically made from coarse clay that is unglazed and porous, allowing air and moisture to circulate through them. Onggi pots are known for their durability and ability to regulate temperature, which makes them ideal for fermenting foods such as kimchi, soy sauce, and doenjang. The unique properties of the clay also impart a distinctive flavor to the fermented foods. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in onggi pots as people seek out more natural and sustainable methods of food preservation. As a result, artisanal potters are making onggi pots using traditional techniques and materials, ensuring that this important cultural tradition is preserved for future generations.

Visit the Korean Onggi Pot Village

The Oegosan Onggi Pottery Village was established by potters and artisans from all over the Korean peninsula to make onggi and to preserve this traditional craft. The village is ‘not surprisingly’ the largest producer of traditional onggi in Korea. Come to Oegosan Onggi Pottery Village and explore the culture of onggi! In the village you will find a museum which tells the history of the onggi, an outdoor area which displays lots of onggi, and activity areas.

Hands On Activities

You can sign up for different experiences around the village, from kimchi making to making a clay plate.

In the kimchi making experience we all received an Onggi pot, salted cabbage and a pot of different kind of vegetable. It only took us 20 minutes to make the kimchi as everything was prepared for us, but the experience was fun and we’re really happy with our two new onggi!

Next we sampled some kiln baked potatoes with kiln dried salt. Absolutely delicious. We Belgians love potatoes! You can compare it to the way Koreans love their rice. So imagine how happy I was to finally try proper baked potatoes.

As this is the place to be for finding Onggi, you will also find some great onggi masters. The master could make 4 different kind of cups in less than 5 minutes! After showing of his skills it was our turn to bring out the artist in us! Making our own cups and plates.

Groups need to be minimum 30 people to join the activities and bookings need to be made in advance. Check more info here.

Visit The Onggi Village

If you are planning a trip to Ulsan and want to explore the Onggi Pottery Village, there are several ways to get there, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we will discuss some of the most popular methods of transportation to help you plan your trip to this unique and beautiful destination.

1. SEOUL TO ULSAN BY TRAIN

From Seoul KTX Station you can take the KTX train to Ulsan KTX station. The train should take around 2 hours and cost 46 000 won. Tickets and timetables can be found here.

2. SEOUL TO ULSAN BY BUS

Take the bus from Dong Seoul Terminal or the Express Bus Terminal in Gangnam to Ulsan Bus Terminal. The bus ride takes minimum 4h30 and costs approximately 22 000 won. Check tickets and time tables here.

3. DAEGU OR BUSAN TO ULSAN

From Daegu or Busan you can easily take the express bus, which takes 1 hour and costs around 5000 won. Check tickets and time tables here.

Take bus 507 or 715 from the Ulsan Express or Intercity Bus Terminal and get off at Oegosan Village. The ride will take around 1 hour.

Other Information

Entry fee: free (the official website says 30 000 won, but this is for the activities, not just visiting.)
Opening Hours Onggi Museum: 09:00 – 18:00
Opening Hours Onggi Academy: 09:00 – 18:00
More info: onggi.ulju.ulsan.kr

Onggi Pottery For Sale

If you can’t visit this village but still want to buy an Onggi then you can contact the individual Korean pottery masters or buy similar pots of Amazon.

Hangari Ceramics Korean Onggi Pot 

This onggi is hand made in Korea and provided by the official Korea Community Food Cooperative.

• It is a natural glazed clay pot, made out of pure ocher.
• Natural fermentation can be done in this pot, such as for kimchi, kochujang, doenjang and more.
• The price of this pot is quite high, as it’s hand made!

** We have the same pot at home and use it for all our kimchi. The pot has the perfect size and the taste of our kimchi is totally amazing. **

Check prizes and info here!

Frequently Asked Questions

Have any questions on onggi’s? Looking for more recommendations on where to buy them? What to visit the village? Let me know in the comment section below.