The predecessor of CRAFTER Guitars, SungEum Guitars, was founded in April 1972 by Honorary Chairman Park Hyun-Kwon in a small basement room of his home in Changjeon-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul City. The business, which began with only four craftsmen, quickly prospered and, in its early years, earned a reputation for introducing high-quality classical guitars to the Korean domestic market under the name 'SuneEum Guitars.'

Founder Park Hyun-Kwon's wife, Lee Ok-Geum, became the first sales representative for CRAFTER Guitars, providing strong support for her husband. In her early 30s and weighing only 50kg, she carried up to 16 guitars at a time on her shoulders and traveled across the country, driven by her passion for the business. Thanks to this dedication and sacrifice, the company grew rapidly and expanded from Seoul City to Yangju City, Gyeonggi Province, in 1978.

The brand name ‘SungEum (成音)’ symbolized the passion to achieve the perfect guitar sound, and its renown continues to be celebrated by many guitar enthusiasts from that time to this day.

In 1986, Park In-Jae, the son of the founder, took over the second-generation leadership and, in 1991, rebranded the company as SungEum Musical Instruments while becoming the CEO, marking a new turning point.

He launched the Crafter brand, secured trademark registrations worldwide, and began forging new business partnerships while expanding into international markets. For more than 30 years, he represented Crafter at global music trade shows and personally traveled the world in search of the finest tonewoods.

As an acoustic guitar engineer, he led numerous innovations and breakthroughs in both design and construction. The dovetail extension technique, logo design, signature inlays, artwork, and Crafter’s unique bracing patterns—firstly introduced in the 1980s—have been continuously refined over the decades. Today, they remain at the very core of Crafter’s identity, representing both our legacy and our pursuit of tonal excellence.

In 2018, Park In-Jae's son, Park Jun-Seok, took over the family business as the third-generation CEO, rebranding the company as 'Crafter Korea' and continuing the development of the 'Crafter Guitars' brand. He introduced third-generation technologies reflecting trends, including the VVS (Vintage Voicing System), DS-2 Pro+ & Stealth Tuner (Dual Source Preamp System), and the development of the MINO series, leading the brand forward.

Under the leadership of CEO Park Jun-Seok, the entire team at Crafter Korea proudly continues to craft Crafter Guitars driven by the innovation rooted in our excellent craftsmanship—built on decades of expertise, passion, and a deep understanding of acoustic guitars since 1972.

The company, which began with just four craftsmen in a humble basement, has grown into one of the leading Korean guitar brands—standing proudly among global guitar builders and setting new standards in the industry. At Crafter, we believe that every guitar we build is more than just wood and strings—it is a vessel for dreams, hope, and creativity. We remain committed to craft guitars that Korea can take pride in and that resonate with players around the world.