Since prehistoric times, lacquer has been widely used in Korea, China, and Japan as natural paint. The lacquer is characterized by its long-lasting use and harmless to the human body by compensating for cracks and burst defects when applied to wood tools and preventing water ingress.

Najeon lacquerware is a craft made from conch, abalone, shellfish, etc. on a lacquer surface, and is a representative artifact of Korean people with a well-coordinated lacquer, which boasts a colorful natural color and a subtle gloss.

Park Gwi-rae was awarded the Silver Prize in the field of Najeon Chilgi at the National Skills Competition in 1998 and won the gold prize at the 26th Korea Victory Crafts Competition in 2001 after receiving a master's degree from Lee Hyung-man (Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 10 Najeonjang) in 1977.

Lacquer of everyday objects or containers not only prevents damage from moisture and insect infestation, but also helps to withstand high temperatures. As a result, lacquerware was widely used from prehistoric times, and lacquerware decorated with colorful jewels appeared as they entered the historical era. During the Unified Silla Period, lacquerware decorated with expensive Western oaks and turtle shells appeared, and in the 9th year of King Heungdeok's reign (834), a ban on luxury was imposed. Since then, the decoration of the lacquerware has been made of shells commonly found around it. In other words, Najeon lacquerware became the only decorative lacquer in Korea.

Tradition has continued so far.

Bae Geum-yong, a native of Gochang, North Jeolla Province, started his career when he worked at a Najeon Chilgi workshop in Mapo. Later, he was taught skills by Shim Bu-gil (a holder of important intangible cultural heritage) and Choi Jun-sik, a former teacher at the Tongyeong Najeon Chilgi Training Center, a public technology school.

He also developed his own technique of inserting patterns into metal wires, and pioneered new areas of the lacquerware. In 1988, he was selected from the Cultural Heritage Administration (CPA) and won a number of awards and special prizes at the Dong-A Crafts Festival in 1989. In addition, he has won seven other awards at the 1990 Gyeonggi-do Crafts Competition.

Najeonchigi, also called "self-painting craft" in Korean, is one of the decorative techniques of woodworking, and refers to craftwork decorated by cutting and pasting thinly sliced shells into various forms on the surface of lacquer wood products. Its mystery and beauty are considerable because it produces various colors depending on the direction of the shell attached and the direction of the light. Above all, it has excellent preservation, and its color does not change over time.

It takes a lot of process to complete the lacquerware. First, nothing is easy, from grinding the inner bark of abalone to cutting the edges of the abalone into a string that corrodes the edges of the abalone, cutting the skin thin with a knife, and cutting off the skin of the abalone. Then, after peeling the white bone with be applied, paint it on the white bone, beating the paint and soil to create a rough patch and a rough sketch. After that, holes are drilled into the pillow with a type, and patterns are cut with a real saw, and a paper copy is attached with a magnet and pressed with an iron. After removing the paper copy and applying it one more time, wipe off the lacquer on the pillow, and use the iron to make one work complete.The owner, Kim Jung-yeol, has mastered the technique in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, which is famous for its lacquerware, and is said to be the most Korean-style lacquerware. It was designated as the "Chilgi No. 96-19" in September 1996 and received the Presidential Commendation for its contribution to the development of traditional culture. It was also designated as an intangible cultural asset in 1998 for the first time among the Korean master Najeon Chilgi occupations.

He's been working hard for a long time to keep the leech going. In 1999, he is constantly participating in overseas touring exhibitions as well as the first artist of the "1st Cheongju International Craft Biennale."

In 2011, the Cheonbong Najeon Chilgi Experience Center was opened to promote the beauty of Najeon Chilgi to many tourists.