2023 Korea Fashion Awards Held

On December 6, at 4 PM, at the Textile Center in Daechi-dong, Seoul, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (Minister Bang Moon-kyu) and the Korea Fashion Industry Association (President Han Joon-seok) held the 2023 'Korea Fashion Awards' event with the participation of about 200 people from the fashion and garment industry.

The 'Korea Fashion Awards' is an event where one can meet those awarded for their contributions to the fashion industry, including fashion designers and garment makers, and also includes the 'Korea Fashion Awards', 'Fashion Sewing Industry Award', and 'K Fashion Audition (Korea Fashion Competition)'.

Additionally, in light of the year-end season, a special event was held to donate cold-weather clothing from K Fashion brands to underprivileged groups. (Korean Red Cross received donations of about 12,000 pieces of cold-weather clothing from 19 fashion companies including Giordano, Youngone Corporation, Samsung C&T Fashion Group, K2 Korea, Weebees, Hansung FI, Fashion Platform, etc.)

This year's event began with an opening video highlighting the unsung heroes of each stream such as designers, pattern makers, and sample makers who have contributed to the birth of globally competitive K Fashion, followed by a hybrid (physical+digital) fashion show of K Fashion Audition finalists in the Challenger, Beginner, and Digital categories.

The Presidential Commendation was awarded to Vice President Lee Joon-seo of Samsung C&T Fashion Division and CEO Ji Chun-hee of Miss Gee Collection.

Vice President Lee Joon-seo of Samsung C&T Fashion Division, in a challenging management environment, exhibited outstanding leadership to achieve the company's highest performance since its founding, contributing to the globalization of K Fashion brands through nurturing domestic representative fashion brands and strengthening their global market presence. CEO Ji Chun-hee of Miss Gee Collection, as a first-generation K Fashion designer, since founding in 1979, has contributed to the qualitative improvement of K Fashion design by holding annual regular collections and maintaining 100% domestic in-house manufacturing facilities. Other awardees included CEO Cho Dae-young of Albion CNC, CEO Kim Byung-hoon of APR, Head Lee Kyung-soon of FITI Testing & Research Institute receiving the Prime Minister's Commendation; Executive Director Han Song-i (Vice President) of GNG, CEO Shin Seung-hyun of Common Origins, Co-CEO Choi Seung-hyuk of Campcolog, CEO Kim Nam-hee of Dolsilnai, CEO Koo Jun-hoe of Alta Bagroup receiving the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Commendation.

The Korea Fashion Industry Association Chairman's Award was given to CEO Lee Joo-chul of W Concept Korea and Adore Newgins, and the Korea Department Store Association Chairman's Award (4 persons) went to CEOs Jin Sung-yong and Jin Hyun-sun of Buraedang, CEO Kim Ho-sun of Sensibility Corporation, CEO Kim Hyun-ji of Stewart Inc., Co-CEOs Kim Soo-min and Lee Hwi-jae of Ambient Inc. Especially, companies that have attempted to enter the global market and pioneered overseas export markets for K Fashion, which has recently grown into new luxury on the global stage, were highly evaluated.

In the sewing industry merit award category, representatives Yoon Byung-min of Samjin Apparel, Yoon Soon-min of Biepa, and Lee Hye-sook of Neulbom were awarded the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Commendation. Additionally, representatives Kang Si-eon of Inch Art, Kim Ki-jung of PYS International, and Director Park Kwang-kyu of Geumcheon Fashion Association received the Korea Fashion Industry Association Chairman's Award.

The awarding of new designers included awards for the 'K Fashion Audition' TOP10 designers, selected through a total of four stages of review since May.

Lee Yong-pil, Director-General for Advanced Industry Policy at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, highly evaluated the passion and efforts of those in the fashion and garment industry for the development of the fashion industry even under difficult domestic and foreign economic conditions, including global economic downturn concerns. He emphasized that the domestic textile and fashion industry, despite facing difficulties due to export sluggishness amid global economic contraction, can create new opportunities and overcome crises through a differentiated strategy for the sustainable growth of K Fashion based on the global Hallyu wave.

Especially, the government will actively work to resolve regulations and difficulties blocking corporate exports and investments and will also strengthen support for enhancing the global competitiveness of the fashion and garment industry.