Saerom Kong appointed Assistant Professor at Kongju National University

Cactus | Brooch | Rice, sterling silver, enamel paint, resin, wood | 2026 | © Kwangchoon Park

After completing her Master’s degree at the Gemstone and Jewellery Campus of Trier University of Applied Sciences in Idar-Oberstein, Saerom Kong continued her artistic work in Germany. She lived in Pforzheim for around two years, working at the EMMA Creative Centre. During this time, she received awards at two prestigious exhibitions: the Zeughausmesse in Berlin and Tendence in Frankfurt.

She then returned to South Korea and completed her PhD at Hongik University in Seoul. She had previously obtained one of her two bachelor’s degrees there. She completed her second bachelor’s degree at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences. In the years that followed, she taught jewellery design as a lecturer at various universities. In 2025, she also received the Twinkle Award at the International Craft Exhibition in Itami, Japan.

An important starting point for her artistic work was her Master’s degree collection at the university, for which she used rice as the central material. Since then, she has remained faithful to this material and has continually developed her exploration of it. Whilst the formal and design possibilities were initially the main focus, she is now increasingly engaged with the historical, cultural and personal stories associated with rice. She is also interested in organic forms, as well as the use of everyday objects and unusual materials.

This openness towards materials not usually associated with jewellery runs through her entire body of work. As part of her PhD research, she created jewellery pieces using, amongst other things, nose pads from spectacles and violin pegs. At the heart of her work lies the question of how value arises beyond material cost, and what significance everyday objects can acquire as vessels of stories and expression.

We warmly congratulate Saerom Kong on her appointment and wish her every success and fulfilment in her new role as a professor!

Further information on Saerom Kong’s artistic work can be found on her Instagram-Account.

Back with Black | Brooch | Rice, sterling silver, obsidian, black laquer, ebony | 2015 | © Saerom Kong