Jung Tae-woo

Jung has been a carpenter for over 40 years, starting as an apprentice to his uncle at age 18. He joined Dongbu Framing Services in its first year of operation as one of Park's initial hires, having previously worked alongside Park at another construction company. His extensive experience makes him the go-to person for solving complex framing problems.

Experience: Master carpenter with decades of hands-on experience (9/10)

Favorite Jobs

• Complex roof framing
• Structural problem-solving
• Training younger workers

Wood has its own language that you learn to understand after decades of working with it. I can often tell how a piece will behave just by looking at the grain pattern and feeling its weight in my hands.

Physical Condition

Jung shows significant signs of physical wear from a lifetime in construction, with advanced joint degeneration in his hands and shoulders. Today he is moving slowly with noticeable stiffness, especially when transitioning between standing and kneeling positions. He compensates with exceptional technique that minimizes unnecessary movements.

Favorite Place

Jung's favorite place is a traditional tea house in Busan's Jung-gu district housed in a renovated hanok building. He visits weekly to meet with other veteran tradesmen from various construction fields, sharing stories and advice over Korean tea. The beautifully preserved wooden joinery in the tea house's roof structure always draws his eye, and he takes pride in explaining traditional construction techniques to younger companions who accompany him there.

Links

Works at Dongbu Framing Services