Korean designer’s work to adorn UN memorabilia under Ban

Thousands of scarves, neckties and mugs designed by a Korean woman will be used as souvenir gifts given to important guests to the United Nations over the next five years.
Designer Lee Kyung-soon, 50, who made a name for herself during the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup games by designing neckties for national soccer coach Guus Hiddink, said she was providing the items at the request of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Ms. Lee is the head of Nouveautes, an industrial design firm.
The scarf Ms. Lee designed features laurel tree leaves, a pigeon and Mr. Ban’s signature printed on a blue background. The flag of the United Nations is also decorated with laurel tree leaves.
For neckties, she used images of Korean traditional gongs, hourglass-shaped drums, lutes, Naedaemun gate and Cheomseongdae tower. Mugs have the UN logo printed on them. The samples have already been sent to the United Nations.
“It is going to be an important opportunity to promote our designs to high-ranking diplomats around the world,” Ms. Lee said.
Each item will cost 70,000 won ($73) and will be produced and delivered as needed to keep them in stock.
Recently, a scarf designed by Ms. Lee was given by Mr. Ban to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The red scarf is decorated with 400 tiny, natural pearls.
“Mr. Ban wanted a scarf to honor the friendship between Mr. Ban and Dr. Rice. I used pearls, which symbolize timeless friendship,” Ms. Lee said.
Neckties similar to those Mr. Ban wears and the scarf identical to the present to Dr. Rice were auctioned at COEX InterContinental Hotel in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul on Friday.
The event was sponsored by the Corea Image Communication Institute to recognize Mr. Ban and Chung Myung-whun, the art director and conductor of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, for improving the image of Korea.

by Ghang Seung-min