Seoul Fashion Week director hopes to remain
Jung Ku-ho, left, director of the 2018 Fall/Winter Hera Seoul Fashion Week, answers questions at a press conference on Tuesday. At right is Kim Yun-hee, director of the fashion division at the Seoul Design Foundation. [SEOUL DESIGN FOUNDATION]
Jung was appointed the director of Seoul Fashion Week in May 2015, and produced the 2016 spring/summer fashion week in October that year. He extended his contract last year after his two-year term was over in May, but now he is unsure whether he will continue in his role.
“I would like to keep working for as long as I am helpful to this institution, this festival and to the designers,” said Jung, when asked about his desire to extend his contract again. “But I can’t say for sure as a lot of things might change with a new president of the design foundation coming this year. I have a lot of things on my mind, but there are no clear answers to whether I can work them out with the new president or the new mayor of Seoul.”
Throughout the conference, Jung alluded to the various on-going programs that he wishes to continue working on. “We are in talks with the British Fashion Council on doing something together such as sending young and talented designers to each country’s fashion shows. We have heard some positive feedback which is a good sign that the Korean fashion industry is making progress internationally.”
This year’s event will take place at the DDP grounds as usual, featuring fashion shows from some of the biggest names in the local industry, networking events for both buyers and young designers and also entertainment for young people interested in fashion. An opening fashion show from hanbok (Korean traditional dress) designer Kim Hye-soon will take place on March 19.
The show will include a performance by the Ssing Ssing band, a rock band that fuses the two completely different genres of minyo (Korean folk) and modern rock.
“Seoul Fashion Week is an opportunity for us to get some of our most talented designers out into the world,” said Jung. “This isn’t just about business, but forming a network for smaller designers who don’t have as many opportunities. It’s our goal to provide them with a chance to promote themselves.”
The fashion week schedule is now available at www.seoulfashionweek.org, and an official app will be available starting March 13.
BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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