[Insta Walk] Imong Photo Studio - 'Imagination Workshop' That Summons My Own Dream into Reality

Imong Photo Studio
A Home Studio That Creates Spaces and Atmospheres
Matching the Customer's Desired Concept
Featuring Oriental-Style Statues and Vintage Props
Overall Exuding an Occult Atmosphere

Interior view of the home studio Imong Photo Studio. / Photo by So Young Kim sozero815@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Imagination. The act of picturing phenomena or objects not actually experienced in one’s mind. We often heard the phrase "spread the wings of imagination" so much in our childhood that it became ingrained in our ears, but reality is not as easy as it seems. Thus, the wings of imagination often fold against the wall called reality.

But Walter was different. Walter, the protagonist of the movie Walter Mitty, is an ordinary office worker living a mundane life, yet he constantly dives into extraordinary imaginations. Eventually, he sets off to Greenland to turn his imagination into reality and fulfills his dream of "becoming a special person and doing special things." Perhaps we too are unfolding imaginations like Walter every moment. It’s okay to be a little unique or strange. Now is the time to make those imaginations real.

Here is a place for you, who live a reality far from dreams and imagination, where things that remained only in imagination are realized. Just as Walter’s journey to make imagination reality began with "Sean’s 25th Photo," the medium that leads imagination to reality here is "photography." "We imagine all things strange, bizarre, eerie, or absurdly ridiculous. We need to do that." This is how Imong Photo Studio invites you to the place where your dreams come true.

Exit Seoul Station on Subway Line 4 through Exit 12, walk up a slight hill, and within about five minutes, you will find Imong Photo Studio. Imong is a home studio located in a residential area without a signboard.

Imong (異夢) literally means "different dream" in Chinese characters. Jeong Eena, the representative and artist of Imong Photo Studio, explained, "The name was chosen to encourage people to try out slightly strange dreams or peculiar imaginations they usually don’t dream of."

Interior wall of Imong Photo Studio. A poster introducing the photo studio is hanging on the wall. Photo by So-Young Kim sozero815@asiae.co.kr

Jeong has naturally accumulated photography experience by helping her parents who ran a photo studio for nearly 40 years. The challenge of Imong came from her background as an artist who painted and held exhibitions, leading her to wonder if there could be a freer style of photography by combining these elements. She also felt a sense of regret about the current reality where trends emerge and disappear quickly. She said, "Recently, many self-photo studios and black-and-white photo studios have appeared. When everything converges into one, diversity tends to be hard to maintain. I hope more interesting things emerge, and I want to play a role in introducing and presenting the diversity of photography."

Imong reflects Jeong’s trials and errors. Starting out alone, she handles almost everything related to the studio by herself. She believed that if she took the initiative, customers would follow well. Although it began from scratch like "heading into the unknown," communication and shared concerns with customers and fellow artists have shaped Imong into what it is today. Therefore, Jeong calls it "a place that grew together with customers." She explains that the results are the collective effort of everyone involved.

Imong Photo Studio receives concepts desired by customers, and the artist prepares spaces and atmospheres accordingly. Since people’s imaginations are boundless, each photo is filled with astonishing concepts that make your eyes widen. Editing techniques add fun by expressing things like another self facing each other at both ends of a table or doppelg?ngers. This is influenced by choosing the path of "photos that are not like me" instead of "photos that are like me," which other studios pursue. She added, "I thought it would be fun if the concept shoots could realize what I wanted to be, what I couldn’t be, or the characters of myself in imagination."

Just because it is an unusual concept photo studio doesn’t mean you should feel burdened to approach it. It’s even better if you have completely new imaginations, but there is a concept list built on the imagination database accumulated since its establishment, so you can challenge yourself without much pressure. Jeong hinted that having the mindset and will to make imagination reality is enough.

Lights located throughout stylishly illuminate the props and posters of Imong Photo Studio. Photo by So-Young Kim sozero815@asiae.co.kr

She hopes these activities remain as a gentle "escape" in everyday life that can be remembered fondly. "People tend to want to have fun experiences at least once in their frustrating daily lives. I think that can be a process of finding one’s true self," she explained.

Visitors range from students to the older generation, reflecting that there is no set age for imagining and dreaming. Jeong said, "I didn’t want the photos to be limited to a specific age group, and I wanted to create photos that anyone can leave behind at any stage of life."

The studio is filled with items reflecting Jeong’s personality. From statues exuding an oriental aesthetic to vintage objects, these are frequent topics of customers’ questions. Majoring in oriental painting, Jeong introduced, "Some props were collected during my studies, and some were bought at secondhand markets. I tried to harmoniously arrange everything from my father’s old belongings from childhood to items I found by searching around."

The overall atmosphere of the studio and the artist’s photos are imbued with the "occult" vibe she pursues. This is why hashtags like #OccultStudio and #MysteryStudio are always included in Imong’s photo descriptions. Jeong stated, "I think the purpose of my photo studio is also within the context of the occult, and I want to continue showing natural phenomena, mysticism, and Eastern philosophy encompassed by the occult."

"Giving customers the opportunity to think, ponder, and even direct themselves, and providing such experiences" is what Jeong describes as her role. Imagination is not only for Walter to achieve. Whether it remains a fantasy or becomes reality depends on our courage?a claim that invites deep reflection.