Andre Kim's Efforts to Discover New Talent
Offered Position as Michael Jackson's Exclusive Designer
Actress Choi Ji-woo expressed her heartfelt feelings toward the late fashion designer Andre Kim.
On the afternoon of the 25th, Choi Ji-woo appeared on SBS's current affairs and culture program 'Over-Immersed Life' to introduce the life of the late Andre Kim. The broadcast looked back on the life of Andre Kim, the first male designer in South Korea.
Choi Ji-woo recalled, "At that time, I didn't particularly think my tall height was an advantage, but Mr. Andre Kim gave me a lot of compliments about my appearance. He really boosted the self-esteem of actresses." Reflecting on her first visit to Andre Kim's atelier, she said, "The atmosphere inside the atelier was like the Winter Kingdom. I was overwhelmed by the unique ambiance." She added, "At Andre Kim's fashion shows, you wear glamorous dresses that you can't normally wear. When you stand on the stage wearing those dresses, you feel like you have become something special."
She also explained, "Andre Kim didn't only put top stars on the fashion show stage. More often, newcomers went through the fashion show stage and became stars." The actor Won Bin was one such person chosen this way. Andre Kim, watching TV, recognized Won Bin, who was then a minor actor, and called the broadcasting station to invite him to the fashion show. Other rookie actors discovered by Andre Kim include Park Bo-young, So Yi-hyun, Ji Sung, and Kwon Sang-woo.
Choi Ji-woo said, "Having stood on the stage myself, Andre Kim's fashion shows are definitely different from other fashion shows. From beginning to end, Mr. Andre Kim decides the poses and even the eye expressions together."
World star Michael Jackson also sought out Andre Kim. When Michael Jackson visited Korea in 1999, he contacted Andre Kim to meet him. Even after returning to the United States, Michael Jackson continued to place orders and even offered Andre Kim to become his exclusive designer. However, Andre Kim declined, saying, "I am a Korean designer; I cannot be a designer just for you."
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