Reconnecting with Alumni in Seoul 2022

Traveling to Seoul with the SVA community was a meaningful reminder that our alumni network extends far beyond New York. Throughout the week, I had the opportunity to reconnect with graduates, meet prospective students, and celebrate the incredible work our alumni are doing across South Korea's creative industries.

The trip’s highlight was SVA’s Korean Alumni Association’s (KAA) gathering at the Westin Josun hotel in Seoul. Spirits were high as more than 150 alumni reunited with former classmates after a long pandemic pause and welcomed a new KAA president, Kenny Kim (BFA 1994 Graphic Design) and his new cabinet, succeeding Tak Hoon Kim (MFA 2005 Computer Art; BFA 1997 Animation) following his four-year tenure. It was rewarding to see how deeply connected our community remains. Whether we were sharing stories over dinner, reviewing portfolios, visiting studios, or welcoming future students to learn more about SVA, every conversation reinforced the importance of creating spaces where artists can support and inspire one another.

I also spent some time visiting several schools and studios. I started off with the Chun Ang University in Dongjak-gu for a visit with Tak Hoon Kim and CAU’s animation department, which houses Tak Toon Enterprise, the force behind such stop-motion and 2D animated TV series as “Galaxy Kids, ”Teeny Scouts BigFive,“ ”The Forks with Spiky Hands,“ and ”The Curious World of Linda.” I then joined Jeannie Kang (MFA 2002 Computer Art) at Ewha Woman's University, where Kang shared her career journey from the industry to education: she is now passing on expertise in UX/UI to emerging talent as a faculty member at her BFA alma mater, just as she did as a faculty member at SVA prior to her return to South Korea. Later, I was introduced to Yoomi Choi, dean of the College of Art & Design, for a discussion on the challenges in higher education during the pandemic as well as a potential collaboration between the college and SVA. Later that week, I paid a visit at the newly opened Seoul office of the global production company The Mill, and met with Creative Director YoungChan Kim (MFA 2010 Computer Art), who recently returned to Seoul for the opening of the office, as well as VP, Head of Studio Tony Choi, to talk about the possibility of future SVA hires as The Mill opens positions at the senior and junior levels.

As an educator, I always enjoy watching those moments when connections begin to form, when alumni meet current students, when future classmates find each other, or when a simple conversation grows into a lasting creative relationship. Those experiences are just as meaningful as the lectures and presentations themselves. I'm grateful to everyone who welcomed us so warmly in Seoul and helped make the visit such a memorable one. It was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen relationships within our global SVA family, and I left feeling inspired by the generosity, talent, and passion of Korea's creative community.