Q. The editorial team has come to Korea to prepare a special issue on 'Seoul'. What are the charms of Seoul that make it suitable to be the main focus of an entire issue?

Seoul has a uniquely vibrant atmosphere that's truly impressive. It seems to be a city with an exciting personality in various fields like entertainment, music, and design.

Q. Mangrove has recently become very popular among Japanese members and tourists. What are your thoughts after visiting Mangrove?

I felt the space was very advanced and sophisticated. It's also super convenient to communicate with the desk through chat platforms like Channel Talk. With well-set meeting and conference spaces, it seems incredibly convenient for team movements like with this project. The private rooms are also very compact and comfortable to stay in.

Q. is a magazine that covers not just style but various subcultures. Japan seems to have a wonderful culture of handling each piece of originality with a serious attitude. Is there a cultural scene you are currently keeping an eye on?

Lately, I've been particularly interested in Korean culture. I'm keenly observing various designs like packages, merchandise, graphics, and books, not just K-pop artists like NewJeans. I'm also interested in the companies that produce these designs, and it seems like many of them in Korea are emerging startups.

It's refreshing that small companies that arose not long ago can plan and execute large projects autonomously. In Japan, it's often cumbersome as one needs to follow a pre-defined large system.

In Korea, challenges seem possible. In Japan, the structure is solidly established, making it difficult to challenge new things, and it could be seen as having a conservative aspect. You can notice such differences even when comparing movie posters of Korea and Japan.

Q. As an art director of , which requires sensitive senses and keen instincts, are there any brands or designers you are particularly following?

I like the Dutch designer Jop van Bennekom (@jopvanbennekom). He's someone who does editorial design for magazines like , , and . He also makes magazines by himself. Personally, as I published a golf magazine in 2020, I became more interested in his creative perspective and way of working.

Q. How do you get inspiration in your daily life?

I tend to purchase a lot of books and magazines. I'm not just buying them for visuals; I actually read quite a bit. I don't limit myself to specific authors or fields, delving into diverse areas like politics and philosophy. I have a lot of half-read books scattered around my home, car, and office. Instead of setting aside dedicated time to focus on reading, I read little by little in various places. I also read during the time it takes to charge my electric car, or listen to audiobooks while jogging lately.

Q. Mangrove has the slogan 'A House to Discover Your True Self'. Could you share your ways of developing your own perspective, thoughts, or style?

In a word, I think it's about imitation. It's not good to replicate things entirely, but I try to refer to existing ones to create something new. In fact, my company's name is 'PRETEND', which means 'to act like~'. (smiles)

I'm also interested in the sampling technique in music. Interestingly, there's a service planned by a second-hand shop named 'dublab' in this context. When you buy records for a fixed price at this store, you can create your own new records through sampling within the purchased records. The individual remix records are then returned to the shop as part of a shared asset concept, becoming material for other records.

This is referred to as Creative Commons. Sharing ideas to create new things from within and having continuous circulation is fascinating. Rather than having completely new ideas or unique styles, I think we all play a role in this creative cycle that goes round and round.

Q. You seem to be familiar with the lifestyle of a remote worker due to frequent interviews. Mangrove has recently opened a new work-and-stay branch in Gosung, in addition to its two stay branches. What do you think are the essential elements for a space needed by remote workers and travelers?

As you can do anything with just a smartphone these days, a charger and Wi-Fi are essential, aren't they? I like to travel as light as possible, so I think I feel this way even more. In fact, I lost my wallet entirely on the subway shortly after arriving in Seoul last week. I lost everything, including credit cards, driver's license, Japan's My Number card, and cash. I've been borrowing money from colleagues to get by, but I'm thankful I at least had my phone with me. Come to think of it, I'm practically experiencing remote working with just a charger and Wi-Fi. (laughs)

Q. You must often work in various cities and new environments. Do you have any routines for creating your own atmosphere even in temporary accommodations?

When I go on business trips or travel, the first thing I do is take out all the items in my trunk and arrange them in the room. It's possible to use them directly from the trunk, but I prefer to take out and organize all clothes and personal items, even if it's a bit more bothersome. It allows me to stay in a foreign space while still feeling like I'm living in my own room.

Written by | Shin Dabo-mi
Interpreted by | Choi Beom-jun
Photos by | Choi More