Who Was Kim Rieul? Facts About the Late Hanbok Designer
The fashion world is grieving the loss of Kim Rieul, the designer who redefined hanbok for a new generation. Best known for dressing K-pop stars like BTS and MONSTA X, he took Korea’s traditional attire and gave it a modern, wearable edge.
His sudden passing at just 32 has left many devastated, but his work continues to shape the conversation around heritage and innovation in fashion. Here are five things to know about the late designer and his lasting legacy.
Who Was Kim Rieul?
1. He started his brand in 2016 with no formal training.
Kim Rieul didn’t come from a traditional fashion background. In fact, before launching his namesake brand Rieul in 2016, he had no industry experience at all. His interest in hanbok was sparked by seeing friends rent them for special occasions, which got him thinking—why couldn’t these designs be worn more casually? That curiosity led him to create modernized hanbok suits, blending traditional elements with contemporary tailoring. What started as an experiment quickly turned into a full-fledged brand that caught the eye of the industry.