대한제국기 平壤磁器株式會社 설립의 성격과 의미 : 운영방식의 새로운 패러다임

Abstract

Pyeongyang ceramics stock company is Korea's first modernized industrial ceramics factory that was established in the city of Pyeongyang in 1908. The company founded by some local influential financiers and activist groups who worked for national independence paved the way for a paradigm shift in all aspects of the ceramics production that began to fall into a decline at the time of the Korean Empire period. This company was established at the end of Korean Empire period in order to modernize all aspects of Korea's ceramics industry and improve the ceramics production system because the production of high–class white porcelain had suffered setback due to the Bunwon's privatization of 1884 that had been managed by government in the Joseon dynasty period and large quantities of Waesagi (Japanese porcelain products) had been imported as a result of amity treaty between Joseon and Japan. From the beginning of the Korean Empire period, the revival of national crafts art was regarded as the same as the prosperity of national industry, and various ideas for ceramics production were proposed. However, it was only the end of the Korean Empire period that Pyeongyang ceramics stock company with a certain amount of modern system could be established. This company established in Korean modern period, produced industrial ceramics in a systematic way for the first time in Korean history. But there's further meaning in the establishment of this company. The founders of the company, when they started this company, had a conviction that this company could show Korean ceramics industry a new direction and produce experts, and have links with educational institutions. This company was managed by Koreans for only about 10 years. But, even in this period, Japan intervened in the management of the company. However, the efforts of the people from various fields who expected that their endeavor to revitalize national crafts industry of the end of the Joseon period could promote national prosperity bore fruit from the beginning of the establishment of the company. And in the period of Japanese occupation, they run the company prudently with the assistance of Japanese subsidies. As a result, even in 1910 when Korea's commerce and industry were generally in recession because of the Company Ordinance and the freeze on the national capital, this company could continue to produce industrial ceramic products. Among the companies that was established in the period of Korean Empire, Pyeongyang ceramics stock company was the only company that left relatively many historical materials. From the view point of Korean history of ceramics, this company was the first factory that showed the characteristics of modernity. And it seems that this company's products and new technical skills partly spread to many kilns all over the country and affected considerably Korea's ceramics culture in those days. So this company can be estimated to be the first modernized factory established in the modern period of Korea and a leading company that introduced new technology of the West to Korea and began to produce industrial ceramics in earnest.