Gangwon Province Opens "Gangwon Design Festa 2025"... Showcasing Achievements in the Design Industry at a Glance

Gangwon Design Promotion Agency Opens "Gangwon Design Festa 2025"

The "Gangwon Design Festa 2025," hosted by Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and organized by the Gangwon Design Promotion Agency (Director Choi Insook, hereinafter referred to as "the Agency"), grandly opened on the 20th at the Agency's exhibition hall.

A view of the Gangwon Provincial Government Building. Provided by Gangwon Provincial Government

Celebrating its fourth year, this event is themed "Gangwon's Future Running with Design." It serves as a platform for the Agency to broadly showcase to citizens and the industry the results of its year-long initiatives, including design development for small and medium-sized enterprises, upcycling projects, professional workforce training, public design improvements, and the outcomes of competitions and awards.

The opening ceremony was attended by key figures from within and outside the province, including Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province; Kim Si-seong, Chairman of the Gangwon Provincial Council; Han Ki-ho, National Assembly member; and Kim Jae-jun, Director of the Engineering Design Division at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Together, they toured the exhibition and recognized the growth potential of Gangwon's design industry.

The exhibition features sections on the achievements of small and medium-sized enterprise design development and commercialization, upcycling design projects, results of professional workforce training programs, examples of public design improvements, and award-winning works from design competitions and awards. It will be permanently operated until June 30, 2026.

During the Festa, the "Design Win-Win Cooperation Merit Award" was also presented to individuals and organizations that contributed to the development of Gangwon's design industry through collaboration among industry, academia, research, and government. The Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award was given to Ahn Sang-beom, Director of Mano E&I Co., Ltd., for laying the foundation for the establishment and growth of the Gangwon Design Industry Association. The Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Governor's Award went to Eum Partners Co., Ltd. and Byeon Hojin, Manager at the Gangwon Design Promotion Agency. The Agency Director's Award was presented to The Pict Co., Ltd. and Ibisquare Co., Ltd., both selected as this year's outstanding design companies.

The concurrently held "4th Gangwon Design Exhibition" also drew attention for its diverse and creative results. The grand prize, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award, was won by Park Sujin, a student at Hongik University, for submitting "Ugly Agricultural Produce Dessert Branding," which reinterpreted imperfect agricultural products as a trendy dessert brand. The Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Governor's Award (Gold Prize) was awarded to Song Hyunsook for "Hongcheon Food Market" in the visual design category and to Lee Seunghyun for "Air Room" in the product design category.

On the 21st, "Gangwon Designer Day" will follow, aimed at strengthening the designer network and further reinforcing a sustainable, region-based collaborative ecosystem.

Director Choi Insook stated, "Through the Gangwon Design Festa, we will widely spread the value of design and connect Gangwon's design capabilities as a foundation for future growth in this era of change."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.