How a 96-Year-Old Bronzeware Master Makes Yugi Pots by Hand - Handmade

In Korea, 96-year-old grandmaster and founder of Napcheong Yugi, Bong Ju Lee, is among the only people in the world making traditional yugi, also known as Bangjja - a Korean type of hand-forged bronzeware. See his master craftsmanship, dedication to detail, and how he is teaching his son to continue his legacy.
Credits:
Producer: Carla Francescutti
Director/Producer: Nadia Cho
Camera: Gerald Lee, Tim Han
Subtitles: Vicky Won
Editor: Carla Francescutti
Executive Producer: Stephen Pelletteri
Development Producer: McGraw Wolfman
Supervising Producer: Stefania Orrù
Audience Development Manager: Terri Ciccone
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[@dme5727]

"If you don't hear me hammering it means Bong Ju Lee is dead." that hit me so hard. I hope I can find something I love to do as much as this man loves his craft.

[@kaptainkaos1202]

I’m so lucky because I’m almost the same with my feelings towards my job. I wake in the morning and can’t wait to get started. I make more money than I ever believed, more than I need to comfortably live, love my job, have a loving family. I’m blessed.

[@divyamparmar96]

The guy in the red tee, being air pump and a motor for the grindingly process must be mad fit.

[@brandonmcc94]

Buff Korean Harry Potter

[@thelonelypigeon9554]

Dude I saw that and I was like "I'm going to die in 15 mins if I'm on that."

[@seemslegit6203]

My boy just there to work out

[@andrewparker3329]

"If you don't hear me hammering, it means Bong Ju Lee is dead." thems some badass words right there.

[@tommynguyen3400]

He's not only making a simple bronzeware, he's making the history of Korea. A true master in his craft with the dedication and an insane work ethic even at 96 years old that put us youngsters to shame. Truly inspiring. Respect to you, good sir 🙏

[@lp.8185]

Ah to be able to make something with your hands

[@Rehansingz69]

No

[@satsukitheanimelover]

You’re dam right

[@user-ru1hl5dd3p]

He has his own philosophical trust in his mind with the Yugi pots. We call that craftsmanship. Take my hats off to him.

[@kuanged]

He still has a good sense of humor about his son being a cultural icon as the only one left who knows how to make an ancient chamber pot. Hopefully his son is wise enough to take the joke.

[@JujFuj]

I think being a cultural asset is like a pretty prestigious thing in South Korea so I reckon it’s probably a slick subtle brag P.S I said think. plz don’t judge too hard if I’m wrong this is God of Highschool knowledge I’m using.

[@douglas8568]

I think is just to receive money and status as old business from the government

[@mimicinabox2547]

@@JujFuj It is. It's the same as being designated as Living National Treasure in Japan - that means the government acknowledged your outstanding skill and mastery over certain craft, arts, skills (heck, there's even a blade sharpener being designated as one!). And you get subsidized with 2M Yen/Year.

[@erickim1739]

@k k A chamber pot is a fancy word for toilet.

[@Alex-zi1nb]

The joke about the chamber pots was top quality. The son was looking down to avoid busting out laughing lol

[@horaceschitte729]

Oh my God what a beautiful God given talent this man possesses. May he live to be 200 years old to teach others to make such exquisite and wonderful handmade masterpieces.

[@Oscar-gx2yf]

Lots of respect for this man. Not a lot of people his age have the enthusiasm or energy to do anything yet he seems to be living his best life.

[@trex1448]

He looks and sounds great for 96. Love his accent. He hasn't lost a beat at 96 after a life of hard labor and arduous historical events.

[@nbdyprfct9941]

I think Korean age is different then his birth date

[@user-privateinfo]

@@nbdyprfct9941 Yes. He is either 94 or 95. If his birthday passed it's 95 if not 94.

[@farohfarah2862]

@@user-privateinfo مرحبا

[@PEACE.-]

Just the lie in documents. They even don't had passports and lived in the rice fields.

[@farohfarah2862]

@@PEACE.- مرحبا

[@Vanayr]

This is what the internet is for, to hold on to this kind of information forever. You sir are immortal now.

[@pcchoon]

thank you documenting this on a video. I believe, this will become more and more valuable as time passes

[@chinaskibukowski7747]

Huge respect to this man that dedicated his entire life to this craft. I hope he and those he works with inspire a new generation of bronzeware makers.

[@Louis2963]

Tradesmen of any culture, religion, color, race, or whatever want to call them are amazing to watch and this coming from a tradesman (plumber) for almost twenty years but that man there he is not only dedicated to his trade but an artist

[@MulYeungCooking]

You'd think they'd just retire, but their craftsmanship just shines

[@maxziebell4013]

Watching this video makes me thankful that we invented power tools and pneumatic presses. This does really look tedious and you have to be a romantic to really appreciate or continue such a craftsmanship

[@AnnaRuby23]

I love watching all these videos. What an amazing art and technique that has been passed down. “That’s not me bragging about myself, it’s boasting about our ancestors”. What an amazing group.

[@tonsk2k322]

Historically there was famous bangga master groups in pyong - an provice, nothern korea.

[@jasonjennings8465]

The happiness in his eyes when he talks about his son at 6:39. Gotta love it.

[@saltnsweeties9902]

Eye*

[@jasonjennings8465]

@@saltnsweeties9902 🤣🤣🤣

[@sangyoonsim]

@@saltnsweeties9902 😚👌

[@jamiehughes5573]

Yes he lost a eye in a accident involving a shard of bronze

[@LykeOmg11]

Wish they had an online store! Their works are beautiful.

[@AliasDrakes]

Bong Ju Lee is a living legend.

[@XMetalMatter]

I always like handmade metal objects. It might cost more, but you know the hard work that was used.

[@hermanwillem7057]

you really have to love a hobby when you still do it in your 90s. mad respect

[@bryanjames7528]

Their sense of humor is just like Navajo humor lol Reading what they are saying reminds me of what my grandfathers would say

[@eurorunner98]

Dang, the guy fanning the flames and being on the treadmill (purple shirt) must be exhausted every night

[@forge55b]

I'd guess the opposite at this point. Doing that every day, guy must have some CRAZY endurance now!

[@brandonmcc94]

Buff Korean Harry Potter

[@junemooney1498]

Beautiful work! Thanks for this video!

[@Legidias]

Mad respect for his life and work, but also a living example of why OSHA is in place and one should wear safety eyewear

[@stephensutcliffe8839]

Fascinating. I love bronze, copper and brassworking. So many people are obsessed with gold and steel. I love brass

[@prav2738]

It is amazing how materials are processed and the products are prepared, hats off to the master piece products.

[@chiragpatel2423]

There is something timeless about this. I feel it tells the human story.

[@teresanoll4054]

Wow. Thank you for sharing this amazing story Bong Ju Li is a gift to the world. Blessings to you and your family.

[@patrickl8760]

Loving the work that you do has kept him very healthy for 96 years old.

[@popcorn7754]

Mad respect only for the man and his work

[@vivorared6888]

Genius;... amazing.!.two thumbs up !.. teamwork and skills nailed it .

[@paulmcdonald9592]

Stupendous! Thank you so much.

[@pinstripeowl]

incredible work

[@livewellwitheds6885]

정말 멋있다!

[@pnwRC.]

AWESOME video! I watched it twice I enjoyed it so much!

[@JamesSmith-pc6bh]

Amazing. I spent a year in Korea from 84 to 85, when I was in the army. Wish I had known about this then.

[@junior1138]

Lovely work

[@hajiro9061]

The background musics was lowkey fuego🔥

[@johnsamu]

He's very fit for such an old man. Working keeps you young 👍

[@avishaijahanian6472]

Just thank you for this video

[@bertholdschwarz9637]

Fabulous !

[@carolbuzelim]

Is just amayzing see them working together

[@selams6013]

I'm at awe 😍

[@Apocalypticamerica]

Props to the guy working the bellows and the foot pedals!

[@wendypatterson6091]

What a incredible art form. Would be so happy to house one while I am alive. These beautiful pieces have a life of their own , they cannot be owned.

[@susieuramoto7491]

The artistry is 🤩

[@CASADELSOULVIDMIXTV]

Amazing! 👏👏👏

[@matthewsykes4814]

Wow, just frikking wow........ what an amazing guy

[@hyungjoochoi]

0:14 내가 잘못봤나 했네;; 96세 인데 저렇게 정정하시다니;; 대단하시다;

[@dannyhughes4889]

The respect in Sth. Korea for traditional ways is to be admired and worthy of copying elsewhere. The International Airport has numerous Cultural Centers where travelers can join in to try all sorts of Arts and Crafts and Musicians and Actors perform LIVE. Official Recognition is awarded to deserving Craftsmen/Women who have reached a high level of proficiency.

[@arungera4041]

Respected Sir's Thanks for sharing your experiences and knowledge Honoured

[@jayflow7949]

These guys are such Legends so Amazing done old school!!!!!

[@gotja]

So good

[@ahobimo732]

A real craftsman doesn't do it for the money. It's not a "job". It's a part of your identity. This guy will keep doing this work until the day he dies, whether he gets paid for it or not. I find that incedibly beautiful.

[@Armoredarthur]

Dude is awesome 👏👏👏👏👏

[@aabestt4544]

Amazing Skill... 👍👍

[@oneshotme]

Enjoyed your video and I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@MessyTimes]

What a great guy. A life well lived.

[@lordwolve]

Awesome!

[@ZeroControl]

Respect earned.

[@thisismissem]

You'd think after loosing an eye he'd be like "maybe I should wear something to protect my other eye"..

[@nulldemokratiezwei7773]

Well, he does wear glasses. But I think everyone in this workplace should wear glasses, many I have seen dont.

[@Esablaka]

@@nulldemokratiezwei7773 They should be wearing SAFETY glasses with no possibility of objects going past them from the sides or below and also well... shatter resistant.

[@johnsamu]

At that time safety awareness wasn't that high in many/most countries, just as environmental pollution wasn't considered a big issue then.

[@aidenallen4518]

@@Esablaka as someone who blacksmiths, I have found having a welder IR 3 or 5 shaded pair of goggles when staring directly at metal of these temperatures is the best way to go

[@OilonCanvas19]

장인정신 멋있네요

[@pokeapple]

I aspire to these men’s level of posture

[@theonlybuzz1969]

Very beautiful individual pieces, if my boss ever goes to South Korea, I would ask him to buy a pot/bowl that sounds fantastic like in the beginning of the video. Thanks for showing us this and may the master have many more years to teach his students…

[@oldage001]

Very cool.

[@willb1157]

SPECTACULAR!

[@waynedevinshire2872]

A true craftsman.... Such a dieing breed. Men like him are very few now.

[@jamiehughes5573]

Yes, every thing today is being made with machines there's no spirit or heart anymore

[@VerbindingMislukt]

my guy lost an eye and NO ONE is wearing eye protection in his shop!

[@jaafarsaf9404]

Very nice channel with very good content

[@abudhabi9850]

So 😎 cool!

[@Thomas-fk6ep]

Can't wait to finish watching this.

[@emmy9345]

Lol this reads like such a rude comment 'can't wait til this is over'

[@Thomas-fk6ep]

@@emmy9345 Not meant to be rude. I was just excited to watch it. I wrote that comment when the video was only live for 1 minute, but I could see how reading that in a different tone could give off a different impression. The guy is 96-years-old and still sounds super smart!

[@emmy9345]

@@Thomas-fk6ep I know mate don't worry just a wacky observation

[@jacobwolf5640]

God bless those folks

[@sdk1991zzang]

he looks like he is in his 70s. what a wonderful human being!

[@NIGHTOWL-jf9zt]

5:31 is the best saying I have ever heard!!! I teach the same way, hands on. I CAN teach you something, buy you have to develop your own style, you have to feel within yourself to do it properly and be proficient. Bong Ju Lee, I hope your hammers forever sound!!

[@vitor900000]

96? I would give him 80 tops. He is looking really good for his age.

[@jchoneandonly]

This makes me want to make bronzeware

[@ducatidapaw5522]

Great... Love from India...

[@paradawilsonartes]

Nice

[@RW77777777]

I love the 90yr old lady in Texas who makes a thousand orders of BBQ everyday doing what you love everyday is life

[@jackiepeacock84]

I worked a lead dip pot for a time, and we too used sawdust for a similar purpose, tho different in practice.

[@TheJackOfFools]

I like how he had two answers for why they sprinkle sawdust, but "tradition" was the first reason. He still DID have the scientific explanation too, though. It wasn't blind adherence to tradition. So cool to see.

[@richperkins5192]

Him donating over 3500 pieces of this is extremely impressive. That’s quite a lot different than someone stroking a check

[@iddddaduncan]

Awesome! what do you do with these bowls?

[@Khathaar]

This guy rules

[@togegorengpedas4830]

The ages of the son and father are different, but the appearance of their faces is the same age. always healthy old man

[@daniel_alan_music6583]

96???? 😳 Damn! Respect 💪

[@34ofaninchofbrain80]

I buy a lottery ticket every week and I make lists of things like this and one day when I win I will take my son around the world to watch these kind of masters at work and buy some of what they have produced. I have more than 70 places and growing all the time. One day all will be gone.

[@davidhovey6045]

Cool 😎

[@johnfisher8199]

The man is pretty awesome ( so are the other men ). I have a lot of respect for people who are Master Craftspeople. These are the type of people that the world should revere.

[@cpi23]

hell yeah my dude

[@meinlet5103]

일제 625를 거쳤는데도 옛 기술을 가진 사람이 있다는 사실이 놀랍다

[@MattheuNevinMusic]

How can I purchase any of these pieces? Is there a site link or do I need to travel to them?

[@SupremeShuckle]

Very nice. I wonder what else Korea has to offer that we don't hear about

[@user-zl7nj8hr7r]

진짜 놀라운 한국의 선조들!

[@arthursanthosh]

That one dude who signed up for a job but somehow ends up working out 8 hours a day

[@lpshy9337]

Work comes with a great gym plan it is called WORK. No Wonder the guy is 96.

[@lilchinesekidchen]

wowww they forge out two bowls at a time and then separate

[@refinedbrass]

this appentice is totally ready to get sucked into a fantasy world he gets both arm and leg day and i bet he has to load all the warehouses full of metal

[@interruptingcow2418]

Hmm. Use a mould shaped like a hump then fit the heated bronze pot on it then hammer away till it gets to desired shape. The traditional way seems so tedious but its special that way.