The Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) successfully hosted the inaugural official meeting of the Korea Designers Network (KDNEW) UK Chapter on September 10, marking a significant milestone in connecting Korean designers across the United Kingdom. The event, organized and coordinated by the Korea Institute of Design Promotion (KIDP), was specifically designed to strengthen the network of UK-based Korean designers and foster greater collaboration and knowledge exchange within the creative community.
KDNEW, which was established in 2016 by KIDP, operates as a comprehensive global network that connects overseas Korean designers worldwide. The network functions as a central platform linking Korean designers internationally and serves as a crucial bridge between domestic and international design communities. Through active exchange of knowledge, expertise, and information, KDNEW plays a pivotal role in promoting Korean design on a global scale and enhancing the visibility of Korean creative talent.
Dr. Seunghye Sun, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre UK, emphasized the cultural significance of the gathering during her opening remarks. "Korean design is a new driving force of K-culture," she stated. "The cultural heritage of the future will be shaped by the meeting of contemporary beauty and practical design grounded in Korean aesthetics. It is deeply meaningful to host an event in the UK where K-design connects with global soft power as a new engine of the cultural industries."
The event attracted more than 50 Korean designers and industry professionals who came together to share valuable insights and engage in meaningful discussions about supporting Korean designers expanding into international markets. Participants also explored strategies for strengthening Korean designers' competitiveness on the global stage and building stronger professional networks within the UK's creative industries.
The comprehensive program featured multiple components designed to provide both educational value and networking opportunities. The agenda included an introduction to the Korea Institute of Design Promotion and KDNEW, detailed presentations on current design-related policy initiatives and emerging industry trends, and compelling case studies from Korean designers successfully working across various sectors of the UK design industry.
The event showcased presentations from four notable speakers who shared their real-world industry experiences. Sejin Lee, Senior Experience Design Lead at PwC, provided insights into corporate design strategy and user experience. Minwook Paeng, Senior Industrial Designer at BAT, discussed industrial design applications and innovation processes. Yujin Jeong, HRI Design Lead at Humanoid, explored human-robot interaction design principles, while Joohee Lee, Head of Furniture Design at for people, shared expertise in furniture design and market positioning.
These presentations, grounded in authentic industry experiences and practical insights, generated strong engagement from attendees and provided valuable perspectives on the working environments, challenges, and opportunities available to Korean designers operating within the UK market. The speakers addressed various aspects of professional development, creative processes, and business strategies relevant to Korean designers seeking to establish or expand their presence in international markets.
Following the formal presentations, participants enjoyed a comprehensive networking session that allowed for organic exchange of ideas, sharing of professional experiences, and exploration of potential collaboration opportunities. This informal yet structured networking component proved instrumental in building connections between established professionals and emerging designers, creating pathways for future partnerships and mentorship relationships.
This program, organized by the Korea Institute of Design Promotion, provided a meaningful and strategic platform for Korean designers in the UK to build robust professional networks and share specialized knowledge within their field. The event simultaneously served as an important opportunity to highlight the distinctive value and rapidly growing global presence of Korean design, while reinforcing its increasing significance within the broader international creative community and contributing to the expansion of Korean cultural influence through design excellence.
