"Can You Make a Living Doing What You Love?"... Yoo Jeongsu, Park Sangyoung and Others to Gather at DDP

2026 Seoul Design Run Forum to Be Held on November 10
11 Speakers from Spatial Design, Fashion, Publishing and More... Apply by November 9

What choices did people make to turn what they love into a career and grow their personal tastes into a brand? Creators who have developed their individual tastes into businesses and content will come together, from Yoo Jungsoo, CEO of Glow Seoul, who planned the commercial district in Ikseon-dong, to author Park Sangyoung, who wrote the novel Love in the Big City.

Promotional poster for the 2026 Seoul Design Run Forum, to be held on the 10th at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul. Eleven experts in spatial design, fashion, publishing, and food culture, including Glow Seoul CEO Yoo Jungsoo and novelist Park Sangyoung, will share their experiences of turning personal tastes into brands and businesses. Seoul Design Foundation

The Seoul Design Foundation announced on November 4 that it will hold the 2026 Seoul Design Run Forum at 2 p.m. on November 10 in the Design Hall on the third floor of Design Lab at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul. Seoul Design Run is a program that combines education, mentoring, and networking to build entrepreneurial capabilities in the design sector.

The forum will explore, through two themes, how consumer tastes reshape markets and how personal interests can develop into sustainable businesses. Eleven experts working in fields including spatial design, fashion, food culture, and publishing will take part in lectures and discussions.

Part 1, "Life at Reset (Resetting Lifestyles Through Changes in Consumption Values)," will examine the impact of changing consumption patterns on spaces and everyday life. Yoo Jungsoo, CEO of Glow Seoul, who has planned commercial districts in areas including Ikseon-dong and Changsin-dong, will speak on the relationship between changing consumer values and the market. Im Taehee, CEO of Im Taehee Design Studio, and Jang Inseong, CEO of Stayfolio, will discuss how spatial design changes according to consumer standards. Lee Seonho, CEO of Exoplanet and a science communicator known as "Exo Sam," will also discuss how technological advances may change consumption and everyday life in the future.

Part 2, "Taste at Work," will present examples of how personal tastes have been developed into brand strengths. Cho Heekyung, CEO of Hwayo Group, the company behind the premium distilled liquor Hwayo, will share how the brand experience connects ceramics, liquor, and food culture. Kim Hangrae, chief marketing officer (CMO) of W Concept, will discuss curation strategies that turn consumer tastes into actual purchases, while Lee Myungshin, CEO of Low Classic, will explain how the company developed minimalism into its brand identity.

The final discussion will feature author Park Sangyoung, who wrote Love in the Big City; actor Park Jeongmin; Kim Ayoung, a director who runs the publishing house Muze; and Yona, who runs A Walk Through Ingredients and works across cooking and publishing. They will share their experiences of expanding their own records and interests into literature, publishing, and food culture businesses.

The forum is intended for around 250 people, including entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs in design, fashion, and lifestyle, as well as university students. A networking program for speakers and participants will also be held after the event.

"In connection with the foundation's entrepreneurship programs, we are building a practical support system spanning education, mentoring, review sessions, investment, and sales channels," said Cha Kanghee, CEO of the Seoul Design Foundation.

Applications can be submitted through the Eventus website until 6 p.m. on November 9. The participation fee is KRW 10,000.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.