Designer who made 'BTS' hanbok suit selected for 2023 Asia '30 UNDER 30'

Designer Kim Ri-eul (real name: Kim Jong-won), who is known for presenting works that reinterpret hanbok in a modern sense, is the 2023 edition of Asia selected by the global economic media Forbes. 30 UNDER 30”.

'Forbes' announced on its website on May 18th that designer Kim Ri-eul was selected as one of the 30 Asian leaders in the art category (Art & Style, Food & Drink) and introduced them stating, 'We will introduce traditional Korean art and design in a modern way. I'm showing off in fashion."

Born in Namwon, Jeollanam-do in 1993, Kim Ri-eul debuted a suit made of hanbok fabric for the first time in 2016. This quickly became a Hot Topic on SNS. After that, he promoted collaborative projects with various fashion manufacturers including New Balance, and made his name known.

Especially in the fall of 2020, the members of "BTS" performed in Hanbok suits made by Kim Ri-eul. The footage of the performance at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul has recorded tens of millions of views on YouTube.

He now runs his own brand called Riul. In an interview with Herald Economy last March, he defined himself as a cultural planner rather than a designer. The actual field of activity goes beyond clothing and extends to culture in general. Last year, in collaboration with the British supercar brand McLaren, a GT art car with a traditional Korean ink painting design was unveiled.