Marking 50 Years of Taiwan-Korea Design Exchange
The NTNU Department of Design commemorated an important milestone in international design collaboration by hosting a forum entitled "The Power of Korean Design: Fifty Years of Exchange Between Korea and Taiwan" on March 29. This event not only marked the 50th anniversary of the design exchanges between Taiwan and Korea but also introduced the inaugural “Taiwan Design Research Award,” highlighting the deep and enduring connections between the design communities of both nations.
The forum attracted distinguished guests and representatives from various design associations in Taiwan and Korea, reflecting the robust and collaborative spirit that has flourished over the decades. Among the attendees from Korea were notable figures such as Professor Baek Kum-nam of Sungkyunkwan University; President Yoo Yoonho, Vice President Lee Gahwa, Director Jang Tae-hwa, Director Kim Hee-hyun, and Director of Planning No Sang-yong from the KECD. Taiwan representatives included Professor Emeritus Hsin-Kong Wang and Honorary Professor Pang Soong Lin from the NTNU Department of Design, senior members of the Taiwan Amoeba Design Association (TADA), as well as senior representatives from the GDA-ROC, CIDA Taiwan, the Taiwan Graphic Design Association (TGDA) and the KCA.
Welcoming the attendees, NTNU President Cheng-Chih Wu acknowledged the efforts of Professor Pang Soong Lin in establishing the Taiwan Design Research Award. The Head of the NTNU Department of Design, Wen-Ching Su, further emphasized the importance of Taiwan’s design community in the global design dialogue, and hoped that continued international exchanges provide a forum for showcasing Taiwan's design excellence.
In a speech to the attendees, Director-General Andy Chen Kang-I at the Department of NGO International Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), thanked those who have been dedicated to international exchange, and highlighted the transformative power of design in societal development and the rising prominence of female designers in Taiwan. Additionally, Yu-Chiou Tchen, former chairperson of the Council for Cultural Affairs, spoke on the comprehensive nature of design and its critical role in shaping the national cultural infrastructure.
The award ceremony recognized Professor Baek Kum-nam with the International Award for his thesis on fifty years of exchange between Korean-Taiwanese design, along with four Excellence Awards that celebrated the continuous evolution and innovation within the Taiwanese design landscape. Other awardees were Yi-Chun Wang for his technical research and innovative production of the traditional “chunzihua” craft; Tzu-Hsiang Hsu for his work, “Study on the Development and Creation of Cultural and Creative Products for Warding Off Evil-The Tiger God of Xingang Fengtian Palace as an example”; Wei-shou Huang’s "Contribution of the 'Zhonghua Children's Series' to Children's Art Education"; and Yu-Meng Hsiao, Yee-kang Sun , Chi-long Lin, Ding-hao Huang’s "Exploration of Design Thinking: Wang Yung-ching's Management Philosophy and Its Enlightenment, Contribution, and Impact on Taiwan's Design Development.”
Reflecting on the history of design exchanges between the two countries, the forum revisited the initial interactions between TADA and KECD in 1974, which set the stage for a dynamic and collaborative partnership spanning five decades. This enduring relationship has nurtured mutual growth and innovation within the design industries of both nations and laid a solid foundation for future explorations in design, particularly in the context of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).
Senior members of the design community, including Emeritus Professor Hsin-Kong Wang, shared memories of the early days, emphasizing the resilience and commitment that have led to the vibrant exchange of design philosophies and practices between Taiwan and Korea. The discussions also highlighted how younger generations are integrating technology and AI into design, pointing to the future direction of design education and practice.
Discussion at the forum also extended to the current and future landscape of design interaction, with KECD President Yoo Yoonho and others acknowledging the accelerated pace of modern communication and the potential of AI to broaden the creative possibilities within design. This future-forward stance was complemented by a look back at the deep-seated friendships and collaborative ethos that have been the hallmark of the Taiwan-Korea design exchange over the past fifty years.
Closing the day’s events, Emeritus Professor Pang Soong Lin encapsulated the essence and ambition of the fifty-year journey of design exchanges between Taiwan and Korea by invoking the words of renowned architect I.M. Pei, that on his architectural journey, it seemed as though destiny placed him at pivotal moments, allowing him to to weave my designs into the fabric of history. This reflection not only celebrated past accomplishments but also charted a visionary path for future collaborative endeavors, aiming to perpetuate this rich legacy of mutual inspiration and innovation in design for generations to come.