Building a Korean wood fired kiln - Full Video!

I had the pleasure of participating in the building of a wood fired kiln in Jeju Island, South Korea. This project was organised by a Korean potter, Insung Hwang ‪@daebuyo6342‬ (@daebuyo on instagram). It developed into a hybrid kiln with the fire box (front part of the kiln) being made using round clay bricks (bone dried but unfired) called 'mangdangi or mangsengi' (망댕이 or 망생이) — and the rest of the kiln being built using bricks (apparently these were secondhand bricks from the furnace of a steel production company). A wooden structure was used to support the shape. An onggi master @hyangjongoh assisted in the project by building the front of the kiln. Enjoy watching!

DAY 1 Morning
0:00 Preparing the filler clay
3:01 Starting the firebox
11:57 Starting the brick front arch
20:33 Completing the front arch
25:50 Putting support structures to hold mangdengi in place
27:30 Creating the angle for the firebox front

DAY 1 Afternoon
40:30 Piling on the layers
52:25 Putting in wooden structure for the back of the kiln
1:03:00 Firebox halfway point
1:24:30 Mini collapse and rescue
1:26:38 View from the inside
1:33:35 Day 1 progress

DAY 2 Morning
1:34:00 Laying the bricks on the back of the kiln
1:38:00 Completing the firebox top
1:54:12 Closing the firebox top
2:02:00 Completed firebox inside view
2:02:30 Filling gaps on the firebox inside

DAY 2 Afternoon
2:03:40 Continuing brick laying for the rear section of kiln
2:10:00 Halfway point of brick laying
2:16:00 Laying mandengi on the back end
2:22:00 Laying the final bricks