Design Korea 2023, the nation’s biggest design exhibition, opened for a five-day run at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Nov. 1.
The design fair, held under the theme “Design Solution for a Better World,” showcased about 2,000 products.
Spectators were given the chance to look at the products, reflecting the latest in design trends, such as technology convergence design, human-oriented design and eco design.
Design Korea 2023, hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and Korea Institute of Design Promotion (KIDP), was the 21st rendition. The design fair made its debut in 2003.
On top of displaying design and other products, Design Korea 2023 coincided with international conferences, a B2B design matching event, a design job fair and a session announcing the outcomes of design promotion projects.
This year, the prior buyer registration online system “365 Biz” was inaugurated to support one-on-one matching sessions between design companies and buyers.
An opening ceremony coincided with the Korea Design Awards.
The coveted Order of Industrial Service Merit, Silver Tower went to Kim Hyun, a councilor with D’park Branding, in recognition of designing “Hodori,” the mascot of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and the Korean government’s symbols.
Kim Jin-soo, deputy head of Samsung Electronics Design Center, and Chung Byoung-Kyoo Design President Chung Byoung-Kyoo, were honored with the Industrial Service Medal.
Kim had been credited with participating in diverse mobile device design projects while Chung was recognized for introducing a book design concept of the Korea book publishing industry and designing about 3,000 books.
A whole view of the exhibition hall of Design Korea 2023. (Photo: KIDP)
The Design Exhibition Awards ceremony, designed to nurture Korea’s next-generation designers, and excellent design product awards ceremony, took place at COEX Conference Room on Nov. 3.
In his commemorative speech at the opening, First MOTIE Vice Minister Jang Young-jin said, “Design is a soft power industry that creates new values and raise companies and the nation’s branding image, and the government will do not spare efforts to globalize K-design.”
First Lady Kim Keon-hee was also present at the opening ceremony.
She extended gratulations for the opening of Design Korea 2023 and expressed support for the development of the design industry.
Dignitaries, including First Lady Kim, looked at cleaning robots for low-visuality persons, benches made with recycled plastic and packaging products upcycled with waste fire-fighting clothes, which were on display at major exhibition halls.
First Lady Kim also saw fresh design products, produced by youth and students, and gave words of encouragement to next-generation designers.
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