[Car Design Hallyu] "Top Fundamentals" Ranked 3rd Worldwide with 1,400 Professionals Active

"Designer Nationality Considered, Third Largest Worldwide"
Porsche, Maserati, Volvo Employ First Korean Designers
Notable in Electric Vehicle Design
Contributing to Development After Returning from Overseas

"The fundamental skills like drawing are the best in the world among Korean designers," said the exterior designer of Jung Woo-sung's style Porsche in an interview with our newspaper on the afternoon of the 4th. He added that Korean designers with good fundamentals have been able to succeed. "Just as former South Korea national football team coach Hiddink emphasized basics like stamina, the essential quality of a good designer is the fundamentals."

Jung Woo-sung style Porsche exterior designer. He is the first Korean designer at Porsche headquarters.
[Photo by Porsche Korea]

Korean designers are standing out in the field of automobile design. According to the introduction by the Korea Automobile Design Association, about 1,400 Koreans work in the design departments of automobile companies worldwide. The association reports that Koreans rank third in the world by nationality among automobile designers. They are active in designing future cars such as electric vehicles or return to Korean companies to contribute to the development of domestic automobile design.

Ming Byung-yoon, Maserati Exterior Designer
[Photo by Maserati]

Many Korean designers are active not only domestically but also in the imported car industry. Min Byung-yoon, the first Korean to be in charge of Maserati exterior design, participated in the design of the MC20, which was selected as the "most beautiful supercar in the world" at the 2021 French International Automobile Festival. He also designed the coupe-type sports car GranTurismo, which will be unveiled to customers in the second half of this year with a completely changed appearance for the first time in 16 years.

Jung Hyun Lee, Senior Exterior Designer at Volvo LA Design Center [Photo by Volvo Cars Korea]

Lee Jung-hyun, the first Korean designer at Volvo Cars, has a unique background of majoring in mechanical engineering in Korea. Dreaming of becoming an automobile designer, he completed a master's degree in design in Sweden and joined Volvo in 2010. He is well known for producing optimal results between function and design by utilizing his mechanical engineering knowledge. He was responsible for the main design of the second-generation XC60 in 2017. At that time, the vehicle was praised for its dynamic yet stable proportions.

Korean designers also stand out in the field of future car design, including electric vehicles. Two Korean designers participated in the development of Cadillac's first electric vehicle, the Lyriq, which is expected to be released domestically next year. Gil Bobin was in charge of the exterior design, and designer Kim Miso handled color and trim.

Designers Gil Bobin and Kim Miso (from left) who designed Cadillac's first electric vehicle
[Photo by Cadillac Korea]

There are increasing cases of Korean designers returning to Korean companies after gaining recognition in the imported car industry. Executive Director Lee Sang-yeop, who oversees Hyundai Motor Company and Genesis brand design, designed the Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro at GM and led the Bentley Bentayga project, Bentley's first sports utility vehicle (SUV). After being recruited by Hyundai, he has been credited with establishing Hyundai's unique design identity by unveiling models such as the Ioniq 6, Kona, and N Vision 74 concept car.

Sangyeop Lee, Vice President of Hyundai Motor Company Photo by Hyundai Motor Company

Kang Won-kyu, head of Kia Design Innovation, was active as an exterior designer at BMW. Currently, he leads the establishment of advanced design strategies and future design directions at Kia. Models that have passed through his hands include the BMW 5 Series LCI (Life Cycle Impulse) and the Concept 4 Series Coupe.

Kang Won-kyu, Head of Kia Design Innovation
Photo by Kia

The activities of future talents leading automobile design continue. Last year, two Korean participants made it to the final round of the design competition held by Swedish electric vehicle company Polestar. The protagonists are Han Seung-wan, who works as an automobile interior designer in the UK, and Lee Chang-ha, who majored in mobility design in the US. The final award-winning design will be produced as a physical model and exhibited at the Shanghai Motor Show in April.