By Honorary Reporter Ayushi Kharayat from India

Blending tradition and modernity, Kim Soung-eun is a jewelry designer who runs Naschenka, a brand whose items have appeared in over 100 Korean dramas and films and have been used by K-pop celebrities.

From Dec 24-25, a video of actor-singer Suzy wearing Hanbok appeared on the giant billboard at Times Square in New York. Kim made the traditional accessories worn by Suzy in the video.

Kim Soung-eun is the owner of Naschenka, a traditional royal family jewelry brand launched in 2002. (Kim Soung-eun)

Despite not majoring in design as an undergraduate and graduate student, she achieved considerable success in this field by listing her products on auction sites that led to her setting up an online shopping platform and physical stores.

Kim said her favorite jewelry is norigae, an ornament hung from a traditional female Hanbok. "My personal favorites among Korean jewelry include items made from jade and silver," she said. "I believe that the intrinsic properties of materials rooted in tradition hold paramount importance."

Recent historical dramas such as tvN's "Mr. Queen" have sparked viewer interest in traditional costumes and accessories. Kim rents out jewelry to producers and filmmakers and occasionally designs new items for special characters in the series upon request.

"Due to the intricate and time-consuming nature of creating these pieces, production teams often approach me when K-drama scripts are in development," she said. "By maintaining a foundation in tradition and infusing modern elements in materials and techniques, our tradition can undergo a dazzling transformation.”

Every one of her pieces signifies the character's strengths and attributes as well as their societal status back in the day. She said jewelry placed on Hanbok is an integral part of the outfit.

Kim's creations have appeared in many popular historical K-dramas like "Mr Queen" and "River Where the Moon Rises" as well as music videos for K-pop acts like "Daechwita" starring Suga of BTS. (Naschenka's official website)

Kim picked as her proudest accomplishment pieces worn by actor Go Hyun-jung, who played the titular character, in the MBC hit period drama "The Great Queen Seondeok" (2009). 

Korea has had a longstanding fascination with head adornments, she added, emphasizing the cultural and aesthetic value of accessories for women in the Joseon Dynasty. 

K-pop stars like Suga from BTS, Jisoo from BLACKPINK and Wonyoung from IVE have also worn Kim's creations, attraction global attention to traditional Korean jewelry.

On the use of her works in a project to promote Hanbok globally, she said, “Given that this collaboration promotes Hanbok, we gladly agreed to participate in the photoshoot. If Hanbok represents traditional attire, I believe that the adorning accessories are also an integral part."

A global promotional video for Hanbok and Elle Korea magazine's first cover of 2024 feature actor Suzy wearing Hanbok accessories and jewelry created by Naschenka. (Naschenka's official website and Elle Korea magazine)

Kim said she plans more artistic exhibitions at independent spaces in Korea and marketing on Amazon internationally to spread Korea's traditional jewelry worldwide through her brand. She added that she will collaborate with global luxury brands to show how tradition and modernity can create perfect harmony.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.