From left: Ahn Yeong-dae (Designer Award winner), Lee Woo sung (Director of KCSNY), Jang Gi-beom (First-place winner), Park Youn Soo, Lee Suk Tae, Choi Boko (all Concept Korea Designers)

Concept Korea Fashion Contest and Exhibition Event at Korean Cultural Service NY

The ‘Concept Korea Fashion Contest’ was held from October through December 2013 jointly by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Yoo  Jin-ryong), Korea Creative Content Agency (President Hong Sang-pyo), Daugu Metropolitan City, and Korea Research Institute for Fashion Industry.  The awards ceremony was held on January 17 at the Korean Broadcasters Association building in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. 

The fashion contest was held for the purpose of widely publicizing hallyu (Korean Wave), which brings together Korean cultural and fashion content in the New York fashion industry and to raise the stature of the designers’ brands that took part in Concept Korea that was held in New York in October.  The contest was for students residing in Korea and New York who are majoring in fashion.

Designers who participated in Concept Korea 2013 served as jury members for the contest.  There were originally 127 works entered, and after the first screening process 13 works remained for the final selection. 

The first place prize (The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award) was presented to Jang Gi-beom, who studies at the Division of Design at Dongseo University.  In addition to the award, Jang Gi-beom was also presented with prize money and a place ticket to see the Concept Korea F/W 2014 fashion show in New York. 

Second place prizes were given to both Jeong Seon-moon and Kim Dan-bee.  Jeong Seon-moon studies at the Department of Fashion Design at Dongseo University, and Kim Dan-bee studies at the Department of Fashion Design at the University of Suwon.  Third place prizes were presented to Lee Chang-guen, Jo Jin-gyeong, and Park Gi-eon.  Second and third place winners were presented with an award certificate and prize money from the Korea Creative Contest Agency and Korea Research Institute for Fashion Industry. 

Designer Awards included a souvenir and a Concept Korea Designer Award and were presented to: Kwon Ji-woong, Byeon A-ram, Kim Ji-in, Ahn Yeong-dae, Lee Bo-yoon, Kim Ga-yeon, and Lee Yeon-hae.

The winning works will be displayed for two weeks at the New York Korean Cultural Center during New York Fashion week in February.  A group fashion show of Concept Korea designers who served as jury members will be held on February 11 at Lincoln Center in New York.