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This year, six PhD students and postdoctoral researchers from European universities and research institutes presented their latest findings through oral presentations, each supported by JECS Trust Travel grants. Professor Thomas Graule, President of ECerS, inaugurated the symposium with an opening speech, setting an enthusiastic tone for the day.

The symposium featured two main sessions:

Morning Session chaired by Professor Misoo Kim (Sungkyunkwan University) and Dr. Seonghun Heo (Korea Institute of Science and Technology).
Afternoon Session chaired by Professor Sangtae Kim and Professor Seonyoung Lee, both from Hanyang University.
At the end of the first day, a networking dinner offered a unique platform for students and young researchers to mingle, exchange ideas, and build connections. European participants took this opportunity to connect with their Korean peers, creating valuable cross-cultural professional relationships.

The next joint symposium is scheduled to take place during the XIXth Conference of the European Ceramic Society in 2025 in Dresden, Germany.

The second day of the conference included a memorable excursion, immersing European participants and their Korean counterparts in South Korea’s rich blend of traditional and modern culture. The excursion began with a tour of the modern Gangnam neighborhood, followed by a visit to Deoksugung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village, where participants explored Korea's historical architecture and learned about cultural heritage preservation.

As part of this cultural immersion, participants were provided with traditional Korean attire, the hanbok, which added an authentic touch to the palace visit. Wearing these elegant, colorful dresses, the group experienced the palace grounds as if stepping back in time – an unforgettable experience that deepened their connection to Korean history and customs. Afterward, they enjoyed a traditional Korean lunch, sampling local flavours. The day continued with a visit to a K-pop studio, which highlighted South Korea's globally influential entertainment industry that has captivated audiences worldwide.

The excursion concluded with a painting workshop, where participants hand-painted traditional Korean fans, adding a personal and creative element to their cultural experience. This wonderful day of exploration and learning wouldn’t have been possible without the thoughtful planning and efforts of the organizers, to whom we extend our heartfelt thanks for crafting such an amazing experience.

In the evening, a Gala Dinner was held at COEX, where awards were given for the best oral presentations. Four European young ceramists – Anna Maria Berezicka (AGH University of Krakow), Manuela Gonzalez-Sanchez (University of Seville), Rishabh Shukla (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology), and Cenk Abdurrahmanoglu (Technical University of Denmark) – were recognized for their outstanding contributions, along with four Korean ceramists – Sungjun Choi (Hanyang University), Dongyeon Kim (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), Daye Lee (Korea University).

The symposium also provided an opportunity to present the Young Ceramists Network (YCN), a global initiative by ECerS to support young researchers in ceramics. Discussions were held to foster collaboration between YCN and Korean young ceramists, with both groups expressing a commitment to continue this partnership. This first joint symposium marks the start of an ongoing exchange, with KCerS planning to send Korean young ceramists to the 2025 ECerS conference in Dresden, reinforcing the bond between the two societies.