Slow takes and cultural essays that reframe how we see Korea: its aesthetics, contradictions, and transformations.
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.
AI가 디자인 스킬을 대체해가는 시대, 디자이너는 무엇으로 존재해야 하는가. 기술이 아닌 관점이 디자인의 핵심임을 다시 확인하게 된 사유의 기록.
Rather than defining a new national identity, this column asks what already exists.
이 칼럼은 ‘한국이라는 국가 브랜드’를 새로 규정하는 대신, 이미 존재하는 한국적 삶의 방식이 무엇인지 질문한다.
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.
한국과 일본은 가깝지만 서로 다른 브랜드 정체성을 가지고 있다. 음식, 언어, 산업 구조, 문화적 리듬이 그 차이를 어떻게 만들었는지 살펴본다.
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.
한국의 국가 브랜드를 둘러싼 문제를 탐구하는 칼럼. ‘K-레이블’ 중심의 브랜딩이 가진 한계를 짚고, 한국 일상의 감수성이 새로운 브랜드 자산이 될 수 있는 가능성을 이야기한다.
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. 한국에서 브랜드는 단순한 로고를 넘어 하나의 언어가 되어왔다. 하지만 로고가 취향을 대신하는 순간, 우리는 스스로를 설명할 수 없게 된다. 이 글은 ‘브랜드 중심 소비’에서 ‘취향 기반 정체성’으로의 전환에 대해 이야기한다.
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…