6 stories
From Karina's Prada hanbok-inspired gown at the Met Gala to a Korean CEO ringing the Nasdaq closing bell during National K-Beauty Week, Korean culture is reshaping global fashion and beauty markets in ways that go far beyond trend — it's becoming economic infrastructure.
From Lacoste's immersive polo shirt pop-up in Seongsu to K-fashion brands taking over Gwangjang Market's traditional stalls, Seoul's fashion scene is expanding in unexpected directions — and international tourists are driving the momentum.
From Seoul's AI-focused fashion forum to Karina's Prada moment at the Met Gala and the rise of Hoka and On in Korea's sneaker market, the global fashion industry is being reshaped — and Korea is right at the center of it all.
Seoul's historic Gwangjang Market, long famous for traditional food and textiles, is undergoing a quiet transformation as major K-fashion brands like Matin Kim and Satur open stores inside the market to capture the booming international tourist trade.
South Korea's largest fashion platform Musinsa has grown from a sneaker photo-sharing community into a trillion-won retail giant — and its rise mirrors the explosive global popularity of K-fashion itself.
Seoul's historic Bukchon neighborhood is emerging as the city's hottest new retail destination, drawing global brands away from the saturated Seongsu district — while K-fashion itself makes waves at the Met Gala and beyond.