At the beginning of the independent study period, I’ve started to set up an interview with my stakeholder of this project for research and communication with ideas and investigation. For different perspectives of creative industries, I was intending to interview with different people including experts and graduates with different creative related backgrounds.
Interviewer-Heidi Chang
1. Could you tell me about yourself? What is your practice and how long have you been working in the UK?
I am a designer and businessman for global company. I had taught graphic design at Kookmin University and had my own graphic firm in Seoul Korea. I came to the UK in 2019 and graduated from Kingston University in Curating Contemporary Design.
Recently I did Korea Pavilion in London Design Biennale 2023 as an art director. We won third from public vote.
2. If you have engaged or been engaging with any creative industries in the UK, How did you find your roles or values there?
The concept for London Design Biennale was mixed reality and we had partnerships with Vortic. As an art director I was working with Korean designers and british people. My role was like a conductor for the orchestra working with different type of instruments (different designs methods: film, music, video, carpentry, architecture, VFX and VR technology).
3. Have you ever felt less or not fit into the creative industry in the UK when you’re engaging with it?
Mostly I enjoyed working in the UK than Korea. There are no biases based on genders or ages. Although there are obstacles due to cultural differences and language barriers.
Social skill is important than actual work sometimes and I am think I should develop that aspect.
4. Have you engaged with creative industry of any other countries? Could you think of anything from that country is different from your current engaging creative industry environment? Or anything you think they can learn from each other?
I have had worked in the US and Korea as well. If you work for global companies there are not much differences but the people are different.
It is sensitive to mention any differences between cultures but korean tend to criticize others a lot. Maybe Korean people are more direct than British. In my opinion, American working environment is more collaborative than Korea. Working with Vortic (British Company) was smooth and efficient. But again I think who you are working with is difference than countries.
5. What do you think would be your competitive edge that you can confidently bring to the UK creative industry?
My ethnicity first, and network from Korea to the UK. It was successful exhibition for London Design Biennale even though our budget was low. There are needs from Korean people who want to promote their works in the UK and I can bridge between Korea and the UK.