interview with KarenMok

HK Star Karen Mok Loves Enthusiasm of Korean Fans

Hong Kong singer-actress
Karen MokBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

If there's one thing that Hong Kong star Karen Mok loves about performing in Korea, it's experiencing the enthusiasm of the fans.

Mok was back in Seoul to participate in the 5th Asia Song Festival over the weekend. Two years ago, she impressed the Korean audience with her performance as Mimi for the Asian tour of the Broadway musical ``Rent.''

``I had a great time performing here (in 2006)). The Korean audience is definitely the best we had (during the Asian tour of Rent). They were really into the whole thing. They're really part of it,'' she told The Korea Times, backstage after she performed at the Asia Song Festival concert Saturday.

Still wearing the slinky printed mini-dress she wore on stage, Mok did not look the least bit tired after giving an energetic performance before a crowd of 35,000 at Seoul World Cup Stadium. She performed two songs from her album ``Live Is… Karen Mok,'' which won Best Mandarin Album at Taiwan's Golden Melody Awards last July.

Mok was all smiles, and had nothing but praise for the Korean audience. ``They're great. It's the first time I'm kind of performing the songs from my album in Korea. The songs may be new to the audience but they were still very receptive,'' she said.

Mok has been in the entertainment industry for 15 years, having success in both the music and movies. She has released 14 albums and appeared in over 40 movies including ``Around the World in 80 Days," ``So Close" and ``Fallen Angels."

Mok starred in the film ``So Close" with Korean actor Song Seung-heon in 2002, but they never appeared on screen together. ``I should be very angry with my director because I never had any scenes with him," she laughed.

During the interview, Mok suddenly stopped in the middle of a sentence when she heard the strains of Korean singer Shin Seung-hun singing ``I Believe." ``Oh, that's such a amazing song. Everyone knows that song," she said, excitedly.

She hopes to work with Korean director Park Chan-wook in the future. ``I would love to work with the director of `Old Boy.' He's amazing. `Old Boy' was definitely one of my favorite movies. It's very stunning," she said.

Mok recently appeared in a horror film ``The Coffin," and is now preparing to produce and star in another movie. ``It's a project I really want to do. It's a sports movie. Basically, it's about a long distance runner. I used to do a bit of long distance running myself. So I have special affinity to long distance running,'' she said.

Next week, Mok will be launching her own brand of perfume, said to be the first Asian celebrity fragrance. The perfume has been described as ``capturing the essence of Karen Mok in a bottle ― sexy, edgy and utterly feminine.''

``I'm really excited about this because I've had this idea in mind for a long time. I believe Asia should have its own celebrity fragrance. It is suitable for most women, especially Asian women,'' she said

Despite her hectic work schedule, the 38 year old still looks as radiant and youthful as ever.

When asked about her beauty secret, Mok said: ``You try to live a healthy lifestyle. The state of mind is also important to stay happy. And you really have to like what you do. It gives you energy and makes you more youthful.''

And judging from Mok's smile, she really likes what's she's doing.

my hongdae story

Rediscovering Hongdae's Artistic Side

Tour guide Jung Moon-shik talks about Hongdae's vibrant art scene during a special tour for foreigners, Sunday. / Courtesy of Sangsangmadang
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Young people often head down to the Hongik University area, popularly known as Hongdae, for a night of fun, dancing, drinking and partying. No wonder since Hongdae is synonymous with dance clubs and live music bars, especially the exciting ``Club Day'' event that takes place on the last Friday of every month.

But there is more to Hongdae than just clubs, bars and parties, as a group of foreigners found out last Sunday with a unique walking tour organized by KT&G's cultural center Sangsangmadang and Seoul Foundation for Art and Culture.

Around 20 foreigners, a mix of teachers, artists and students, joined the ``Rediscovering Hongdae'' walking tour. It was the first time the tour was conducted in English for foreigners, although there have already been free tours in Korean on the last Sunday of every month since April.



The tour was meant to break the perception that Hongdae is just a place to party, and to reestablish Hongdae's position as a place of art and culture filled with energy and creativity.

``We want to introduce the `real' Hongdae,'' tour guide Jung Moon-shik told the participants before the start of the tour.

Hongdae 101

Many often forget Hongdae developed into an ``art town'' because of Hongik University, which is undoubtedly Korea's top fine arts and design school.

In the 1980s, Hongdae only had art galleries, studios and bookshops near the entrance of the university. But in the 1990s, dance and music clubs sprouted up. Unlike the flashy clubs in Gangnam and Itaewon, many of the clubs in Hongdae were originally artists' ateliers that were transformed into clubs.

The live music clubs also helped nurture the independent music scene, giving a venue for young musicians to perform. Successful Korean rock, punk and hip-hop acts like Nell and No Brain were ``discovered'' while they were performing in the area's clubs.

Hongdae Children's Park

The first stop on the walking tour was the popular Hongdae Children's Park, located near the front gate of the university. It is not much of a playground for children, at least on weekends. The park is transformed into a street market, on Saturdays it is ``Free Market,'' and on Sundays it is ``Hope Market.'' It is open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

University students and young artists set up makeshift stalls around the park, selling their unique arts and crafts. There's a lot of stuff to see and buy, such as handmade earrings, rings and necklaces, stylish clothes, embellished sneakers, dolls, bags, hats, household items and other accessories. This is the perfect place to find cute items to give as presents or handicrafts to decorate your home.

``This place is a famous cultural area. Children gather here to play during the day, while punk rockers come here at night to perform. This park is not just a playground for children, but a symbolic place for young people,'' Jung said.

As proof, some buildings around the park have been covered in graffiti as if the artists have staked their claim to the area.

B-boy Stage

Next stop on the walking tour was at the B-boy Theater, which claims to be the world's first. The original show ``Ballerina Who Loved B-boy,'' brings break dancing and urban street dancing on stage.

It was supposed to have been a chance to meet with B-boy members and watch their rehearsal. However, it turned out the foreigners could only watch a rehearsal, where the B-boys did not even do much dancing or show off any of their moves.

Inside a Calligraphy Studio

The visit to a calligraphy studio was the highlight of the tour. Sooltong is the studio of calligraphy expert Kang Byung-in. If you've ever picked up a bottle of Chamisul soju, you have already seen Kang's calligraphy on the label



At the studio, Kang showed how with a brush, ink and paper, he can create beautiful calligraphy that conveys the meaning and feeling of the word.

He whipped out a blank sheet of paper, dipped his brush in a bowl of ink and wrote the Korean word ``kkot,'' which means flower. With a few strokes of his brush, he created an elegant, almost flower-shaped character for ``kkot.''

Using a brush with chicken feathers or even just ordinary wooden chopsticks, Kang showed how different implements can create various effects in calligraphy. He also used various materials to write on such as Korean traditional paper and even kitchen roll paper.

Kang revealed he was always interested in calligraphy ever since he was in sixth grade. ``I really love the beauty of Hangeul,'' he said.

When asked if which of his works was his favorite, he cited the calligraphy for the title of a Korean drama, ``King Sejong,'' who created the Korean alphabet.

Street Art

Unlike Insadong and Cheongdamdong, Hongdae is one place where art is not just in the galleries but also on the streets. Even the buildings and walls around Hongdae are decorated with graffiti and bright-colored murals. After all, one person's graffiti can be another person's idea of street art.

``There are around 20 art galleries and alternative spaces in Hongdae. These galleries are not like the mainstream galleries in other parts of Seoul. Unknown young artists are given a chance to show their works,'' Jung said.

Since 1993, Hongdae has always hosted its annual street art exhibition during autumn. This year's street art exhibition started Thursday and runs through the weekend. It will be exciting to see fresh and innovative art works by young artists, many from Hongik University, at the exhibition.



Legendary Street

Seogyodong Street No. 365 is a legendary street in Hongdae, which was once filled with art studios and workrooms. Now, the street is home to many small boutiques selling clothing, shoes and accessories, as well as old-fashioned Korean restaurants.

``This street is very symbolic for the artists in Hongdae. The old buildings used to be workshops of many artists, but now many of these have been converted,'' Jung said.

Jung pointed out two famous bars, Chez Robert and Bar Da that still remain popular among artists and music lovers. Jung, who is also the lead singer for an indie rock band The MU:N, recommended going to the bars for ``excellent'' live music and drinks.

Cultural Center

The final stop on the tour was Sangsangmadang, a cultural center that has a cinema, live hall, art gallery, academy, studio and cafe. Here, indie artists can hold exhibitions at the gallery, while amateur musicians can perform at the live hall.

At the basement cinema, independent films from Korea and abroad are shown. Every Tuesday at 8 p.m., there are film screenings with English subtitles. (Visit www.sangsangmadang.com.)

The Rediscovering Hongdae tour lasted three-and-a-half hours, barely scratching the surface of Hongdae's artistic side. But it may have been enough to change some people's perception of Hongdae. Carol Scott, a 25-year-old American teacher, has always gone to Hongdae for the nightlife. She was pleasantly surprised to have discovered something new about the area.

``Sometimes, its hard for foreigners to find out things about Hongdae if you don't speak a lot of Korean. It's great to rediscover this other side of Hongdae,'' she said.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

asf 2008

5th Asia Song Festival Bigger Than Ever

Korea's TVXQ presented adoring fans with songs from their new album "Mirotic" at the 5th Asia Song Festival held Saturday at Seoul World Cup Stadium in northern Seoul. / Courtesy of organizers
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Celebrating its 5th anniversary Saturday, the Asia Song Festival concert proved to be bigger than ever with performances from 20 top singers and groups from 12 Asian countries.

Organizers estimated around 35,000 people attended the concert, including several thousand fans from Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand.

It was a night of pop music, whether it was from boy bands, sexy divas, R&B singers and rockers. The concert opened with international popera singer Rose Jang belting out ``All That Jazz.''

Korean boyband SS501 treated the crowd to two energetic dance numbers, followed by Hong Kong R&B diva Karen Mok's performance.

``It's great to be back in Korea,'' Mok, who performed in the musical ``Rent" in Seoul in 2006, told the crowd.

Chinese singer Anson Hu serenaded the crowd with a ballad. ``It's my first time in Korea. I'm very happy to see all of you,'' he said.

Rising pop group SHINee elicited cheers from the crowd, as they performed their hit song, ``You're So Pretty.'' SHINee and Japanese girl group Berryz Kobo received awards for Best New Artist at the festival.

While the concert was dominated by pop singers and groups, Rivermaya from the Philippines and Japanese singer Anna Tsuchiya injected a much-needed dose of rock music to the festival.

Rivermaya, a popular Filipino rock band, performed two songs ``Nice To'' and ``You'll Be Safe Here,'' both of which were warmly received by the audience. Tsuchiya, who starred in the popular Japanese film ``Kamikaze Girls,'' gave a wildly energetic performance of her hit song ``Rose.''

Korea's top ballad singer Shin Seung-hun performed ``I Believe,'' a song from the popular Korean film ``My Sassy Girl.'' Agnes Monica, described as the Britney Spears of Indonesia, also attracted attention for her sizzling dance number.



Expectedly, the night's biggest cheers were reserved for popular male groups, Fahrenheit from Taiwan, w-inds from Japan and TVXQ from Korea.

Fahrenheit showed off their strong dance moves, as they performed three songs, including the cheerful ``New Home.'' The group's popularity recently soared around Asia after two of its members, Wu Chun and Jiro Wang starred in ``Hana Kimi, a Taiwanese drama.

W-inds, a three-member R&B group, impressed their fans with their powerful singing and dancing. W-inds, who recently released their album ``Seventh Ave.," also performed their latest single for the first time in Korea.

The crowd became even more excited when TVXQ came out to perform songs from their new album ``Mirotic,'' including the title track and ``Hey! (Don't Bring Me Down).''

With the slogan ``Asia is One,'' the Asia Song Festival has always been aimed at increasing cultural exchanges among Asian countries and promoting Asian music.

``The Asia Song Festival marks its 5th anniversary this year, having grown to become one of the biggest music festivals in Asia. The festival brings together artists from different countries, and creates a solid foundation for artists to become stars around Asia,'' said Shin Hyun-taek, director of Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), which organized the festival.

Many of the Asian artists were participating in the festival for the first time, but hope to come back to perform for Korean fans again.

``We just had our tour in Hong Kong. We are just so honored to be here performing in this festival. All the fans here are so lovely and nice to us. We really hope one day we can have our own solo concert here and meet all the fans here,'' Calvin Chen, a member of Fahrenheit, said during a press conference Friday.

The Asia Song Festival started in 2004 with only nine artists from seven countries, but has now become one of Asia's biggest music festivals. Aside from Saturday's main concert, there was also a free concert featuring young new pop artists from Asia on Friday, as well as the Asia Music Industry Leaders' Forum.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

restaurant review: tteokgalbi

Juicy Tteokgalbi at Nunnamujip

Kimchimaribap at Nunnamujip / Korea Times Photo by Cathy Rose A. Garcia
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

There's more to Samcheong-dong than just fancy restaurants and cafes. Look hard enough and you'll find no-frills, hole-in-the-wall eateries that have had a loyal following for years.

Nunnamujip (roughly translated as Snow Tree House), located along the main road of Samcheong-dong, has been around since 1990 and is a place to go for good old-fashioned, hearty meals.

This basement restaurant is quite small but does not feel cramped at all. The walls are decorated with bamboo, adding to the homey atmosphere. The tiny kitchen is partly visible, but there's enough ventilation to prevent kitchen smells from bothering diners.

On the menu (posted on the wall) are kimchimaribap (iced kimchi soup with rice), kimchimariguksu (iced kimchi soup with noodles), tteokbokki (rice cakes and vegetables in spicy sauce) and tteokgalbi (grilled short rib meat patties).

The tteokgalbi (7,000 won for 1 person) was the highlight of the meal. The grilled meat was served sizzling hot, and mouth wateringly delicious. The meat patties were juicy and cooked very well. The flavor leaned towards sweet, but was not too cloying. ,

The tteokgalbi was served with a handful of lightly toasted rice cakes. Unlike most rice cakes, which are tough to chew, the toasted rice cakes were cut into small pieces, soft, and easy to chew.

For foreigners, the kimchimaribap is something that might take some getting used to. First, the dish itself does not look appetizing: rice dumped in a bowl of ice and kimchi soup. But if you try a sip of the kimchi soup, you'll find yourself surprised at the refreshing flavor.

At Nunnamujip, the kimchimaribap (4,500 won) has a light taste that doesn't overwhelm the palate. The kimchi soup is not at all spicy, with perhaps the sesame oil helping add flavor.

However, there weren't enough ice cubes in the soup, which depending on one's preference may be a good or bad thing. The rice also appeared overcooked.

On the other hand, the kimchimariguksu (4,500 won), which features noodles instead of rice, was much better. The noodles had the right texture and consistency, which complemented the mild flavor of the kimchi soup.

To find the restaurant, go along the main road of Samcheong-dong. Nunnamujip is around 50 meters away from Yongsusan. It is right next to the Oz Kitchen restaurant.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

buena vista social club diva in seoul

No Slowing Down for Cuban Diva

Cuban diva Omara Portuondo will perform in Seoul Oct. 3.

/ Courtesy of Private Curve

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Omara Portuondo, the 77-year-old diva of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club, shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Portuondo is celebrating her 60th anniversary as a musician this year, by releasing a new album ``Gracias'' and going on a world tour which brings her to Seoul Oct. 3.

In an e-mail interview with The Korea Times, Portuondo said she is not yet thinking about retirement. ``I guess I will (retire), someday, when the time comes… But it's most certainly not now! I still have yet a lot to sing and a lot to give to my audience,'' she said.

Portuondo said she gets the strength to keep singing and performing from her family, friends, Cuba, Cuban food and the audience who comes to see her in concert. ``From nature, too,'' she added. ``I'm very fortunate to have healthy genes, and therefore, I also have to thank my parents.''

Born in Havana, Cuba in 1930, Portuondo started her career as a dancer at the Tropicana Club, and later formed a singing group Cuarteto D'Aida, with her elder sister Haydee and friends Elena Burke and Moraima Secada.

Portuondo is best known around the world as part of the Buena Vista Social Club, which was a popular members-only club in Havana in the 1940s. Interest in the club was revived in the 1990s, as Cuban musician Juan de Marcos Gonzalez and American guitarist Ry Cooder made an album featuring many of the musicians who performed at the club.

For Portuondo, it was a ``great coincidence'' that led her to join the Buena Vista Social Club.

``I was recording at the Egrem Studio where Juan was also recording with Ry and Nick Gold. I had long known Juan, so he introduced me to Ry and Nick, and invited me to record a song for Buena Vista on the spot. I was really lucky to have been in the same studio on that same day! It was a very lucky coincidence,'' she said.

The album became an international hit. German director Wim Venders even made a documentary about the Buena Vista Social Club, which only helped raise the group's international profile.

Portuondo, now the group's only surviving member, has wonderful memories performing with the Buena Vista Social Club, especially her old friend Ibrahim Ferrer.

``We had known each other for a long time, but we had drifted apart. It had been long since I had last heard from him. So it was a really touching and beautiful moment when we met again at the studio. Singing `Silencio (Silence)' with Ferrer was the best experience I had with the Buena Vista Social Club. Of course, recording with Ry Cooder and other great musicians has been something really big. Well, what can I say, whenever you make good music with great musicians and colleagues, it becomes an unforgettable experience,'' she said.

Her latest album ``Gracias,'' which means ``thank you,'' in Spanish, is a way for her to express gratitude to her fans' support in the last 60 years.

``I really wanted to thank my audience by selecting a series of songs that have been really important to me during all these years,'' Portuondo said.

Portuondo said all of the songs are very touching and have special personal meaning for her. The album includes ``Cachita,'' a duet with her granddaughter Rossio; ``Nuestro Gran Amor (Our Great Love)" composed by her son Ariel Jimenez; and ``Yo Vi (I Saw)," a song about her homeland Cuba.

Portuondo is returning to Seoul for a concert Oct. 3 at the concert hall of the Seoul Arts Center. The Cuban star has nothing but praise for Korea, where she has performed several times.

``I like everything about Korea! The people, the food and the culture ― I adore your country. I would go there every year if that were possible. I have many beautiful memories of Korea, but the best thing is the love and the way the Koreans treat me, which is something I'm very grateful of,'' she said.

Portuondo promises fans a ``magical and unforgettable evening'' at the concert. VIP tickets are 165,000 won. Other tickets range from 55,000 won to 132,000 won. Call (02) 563-0595 or visit www.interpark.com and www.ticketlink.co.kr.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

cartier

Cartier Opens Flagship Store in Cheongdam

Models display jewelry at the opening of Cartier flagship store in Cheongdamdong, southern Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

World-famous French jeweler Cartier finally opened its first flagship store in the fashionable Cheongdam-dong district in southern Seoul.

Designed by French architect David-Pierre Jalicon, the Cartier Maison building is already attracting attention for its elegant facade, inspired by the Korean wrapping cloth or bojagi.

``Cartier has been `jeweler to kings, king of jewelers' for 160 years and as you know every king needs a castle … This is like a private mansion with unique style. The decor, the private lounges, bridal salon and watch salon ― all of this to make our guests very comfortable,'' said Philippe Galtie, managing director of Cartier Korea, during the press preview last week.

While Cartier has opened flagship stores in Japan and China in the last few years, it took longer for the company to open one in Seoul.

``We feel it is the right time for the market to have a flagship store, in terms of level of sophistication of the market. The market is growing very rapidly. Despite the economic uncertainty affecting the world, the high-end products are not affected. We are selling products that you can keep forever,'' Galtie said.

Cartier Maison certainly conveys the essence of the Cartier brand, which is known for luxury, craftsmanship and rich heritage. It features two floors of classic interiors, crystal chandeliers and display cases filled with diamond jewelry, tank watches, leather goods and handbags. It is also has several private lounges, where VIP customers are treated to champagne while picking through the Cartier collection.

Galtie said this boutique is the seventh biggest in the world, although he expects the ranking to drop as Cartier builds more stores around the world.

Cartier Maison features the largest assortment of Cartier jewelry, watches and handbags in Korea.

``We have a long history of accessories. We are known for our jewelry and watches. In jewelry, our best selling items are the Love ring and the Trinity rings, which have become icons for many years. Love rings are 30 years. It is quite old for a fashion item that is still hot. The Trinity ring was introduced in 1924, but the old lady is still quite sexy. That's the beauty of Cartier, the creativity, design and timeless style,'' Galtie said.

Cartier Maison has a wide array of diamond jewelry and bridal rings, but the most stunning and expensive piece is a necklace with a 13.6-carat yellow diamond pendant and 19 carats of diamonds.

On Thursday, a jewelry fashion show featured models wearing some of the most dazzling necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets from Cartier's collection. There's even a diamond tiara, which is now available exclusively at the boutique.

To celebrate the opening of the flagship store, six limited edition mini-Marcello handbags, which come in different colors and materials, are available at the Cartier Maison. Three of the mini-Marcello bags already been reserved as of Wednesday.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

interview with doo.ri chung

Doo-ri Chung Brings NY Style to Seoul

Left: A model shows off a slim skirt, loose top and scarf from the W Concept by doo.ri collection. New York-based designer Doori Chung collaborated with online retailer Wiz Wid for a line of “affordable luxury” clothes geared to Korean consumers.

Right: A model wears a feminine trench coat with detachable capelet from the W Concept by doo.ri collection designed by Doori Chung, during a fashion show at Dear Chocolate, Cheongdam-dong, Wednesday. / Yonhap
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter

Her sexy jersey dresses are worn by Hollywood celebrities, splashed on the pages of Vogue, sold in New York and London ― there's little doubt that Korean-American designer Doo-ri Chung has made it in the fashion world.

Chung is now bringing New York style to Seoul with a special collection for online retailer Wiz Wid (www.wizwid.com). She was in Seoul last week to launch the W Concept by doo.ri, a line of ``affordable luxury'' pieces catered to the Korean market.

``There is a way the people dress here, just as there's a way people dress in Paris. There's a very New York sensibility. I wanted to bring a bit of that. … It's a channel for me to do that because I don' t do that with my own collection, so it's a nice way to evolve that sensibility and that's what I do with this Wiz Wid collection,'' Chung told The Korea Times, over coffee last Friday.

The W Concept by doo.ri collection featured feminine trench coats, jersey dresses, streamlined puffer vests, knit tops and stylish coats in black, gray and blue. Unlike her usual line, the W Concept collection is more affordable with pieces starting at 200,000 won.

Chung said the materials used for the collection are different, but the silhouettes and the overall sensibility are the same. However, some of the sexier designs for jersey pieces were toned down for the more conservative Korean market.

Success Story

Chung's success story has always a subject of keen interest in Korea. Her family moved to the United States when she was four years old. Chung was always interested in the arts, particularly fashion illustration. She majored in fashion design at Parsons School of Design.

After graduation, she worked at Banana Republic for six months and worked for fashion designer Geoffrey Beene for six years. Working for Beene was ``amazing, '' but Chung admitted, for the first two years, she went to work thinking she was going to get fired that day.

Feeling she should challenge herself more, Chung made the decision to start her own business. With a $100,000 loan from her parents, she set up a studio in the basement of her parents' dry cleaning business in New Jersey.

``I couldn't have done what I did without them (my parents). It's not just the money. Money is important, yes, but my mother helped me sew, my father picked up the clothes from the production house. They fed me. It's little things like that. … My parents became my co-workers, as opposed to Mom and Dad. They helped me out in my business and they cared so much. It's amazing to have that,'' Chung said.

Chung's success came swiftly. A year after launching her label, she was named a finalist in the first-ever Council of Fashion Designers of America/Vogue Fashion Fund (CVFF).

``It's so funny because there were 10 people nominated there and I felt like I was the only one that didn't know anybody. All these people had their established businesses and mine was just forming. It was kind of intimidating, and then you're meeting Anna Wintour (Vogue editor-in-chief),'' she said.

A few years alter, she won the Samsung Fashion Design Fund Award, CFDA Swarovski/Perry Ellis Award for Emerging Design Talent and the CVFF grand prize.

Chung advises young aspiring designers to not listen to anyone else, and to trust their own judgment. ``Just listen to yourself. If you don't have the conviction and you need someone else to tell you that, you're in the wrong industry. You have to be self-assured and you really have to know what you want to do,'' Chung said.

In the future, Chung wants to open her own store in New York and launch a secondary line.

And what do her parents think of her success? Chung says her parents are proud and happy about it, but their concerns haven't changed.

``They're still my parents and the only concern is `Are you eating well? You look so skinny','' she laughed.

cathy@koreatimes.co.kr