Seongsu: Dissonant Coexistence
Seongsu breathes through “dissonance” rather than harmony. In this place where disparate elements coexist in their own rhythms, we find the freedom to let go of the obsession with finding correct answers.
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How Does a City First Speak to Us?
Cities are never understood all at once. They speak through pace, light, and atmosphere. This series records the first impressions of neighborhoods.
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A Designer’s Role in the Age of AI
In an age where AI masters the tools of design, what remains for the designer? A reflection on why perspective, not skill, defines the designer’s role today.
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Way of Life in Korea
Rather than defining a new national identity, this column asks what already exists.
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Two Neighbors, Two Narratives: Korea and Japan as Brands
Korea and Japan are neighbors with shared history, familiar aesthetics, and constant cultural exchange: yet their national branding paths evolved differently. This essay explores why.
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Beyond K-Everything
An exploration of Korea’s national branding. This essay examines the limits of “K-labels” and argues that everyday Korean life holds the deeper cultural codes that can define Korea’s global identity.
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From Brands to Taste
In Korea, brands often function as identity shortcuts. But when logos replace personal taste, we lose our own narrative. This essay explores the shift from brand-driven consumption to taste-driven identity.
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On “Young Forty” and Men’s Fashion
In Korea, the term Young Forty has recently become a meme. It originally described people in their forties who managed to stay youthful, carrying a positive nuance. Over time, however, it has shifted into a pejorative label. Today it often mocks men in their forties who try too hard to look or sound young, accused…
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Lost in Starlight and the Seoul It Imagines
A Korean Animation Worth Revisiting Amid the Demon Hunters Hype The world is buzzing about K-Pop Demon Hunters. Its mix of pop music, action, and fantasy has swept charts and timelines, pulling global audiences into the energy of K-pop and the backdrop of Seoul. For many abroad, it was their first time being captivated by…
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Suwon: The Comfort of a Timeless Cityscape
A few days ago, I visited Suwon for the first time. And I was genuinely surprised. Of course, Suwon wasn’t an unfamiliar name. I knew about Suwon galbi, the old campus of Seoul National University’s College of Agriculture, and the Suwon Paik clan. I had also heard of Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site,…
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The Kosmosis Vol. 01 Has Launched
The inaugural issue of The Kosmosis is now available. Titled Perspectives, Places and People., this 116-page English-language journal captures the overlooked beauty of everyday Korean life — from neighborhoods shaped by quiet resilience to the expressive forms of Korean Cool. Created by Seoul Goodman as a single-author publication, The Kosmosis is an independent quarterly journal…
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#82C0DE, The Accent of Kosmosis
When a hex becomes a story. When redesigning the site, I realized the previous accent color lacked intention. So I began searching — experimenting with HEX codes that could hold meaning as well as aesthetic value. Then came #82C0DE.It caught my eye, and then it made perfect sense. 82 for Korea.C0DE for structure, design, and…
