Resources
Resources
2025 Korea+Sweden Young Design Award Showcase
- 15 Projects Presented at the DESIGN KOREA 2025, November 12-16, COEX, Seoul
The Korea+Sweden Young Design Award, co-hosted by the Embassy of Sweden in Korea, the Korea Institute of Design Promotion, and IKEA Korea, was launched to discover and inspire young designers in Korea.
Celebrating its fifth edition in 2025, KSYDA selected 15 outstanding works that proposed imaginative visions for the future of innovative and sustainable spaces. The award-winning design projects, created by the 12 finalists and 3 winners were presented at the DESIGN KOREA 2025 exhibition from 12 to 16 November.
The Top 3 Winners of the 2025 KSYDA:
(Left) Rollwalker by Taehyun Yoon (Middle) Raindrop by Junwoo Lim (Right) Lightwist by Hannah Lee
Launched in 2019 to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Sweden, the Korea+Sweden Young Design Award aims to expand design exchange between the 2 countries. Under the guiding principles of “innovation,” “sustainability,” and “a better future,” the award presents a new theme each year to discover and support emerging Korean designers.
This year’s theme, “Space and Interior Design for the Future,” invited a wide range of entries that reflect creativity and environmental values in response to the lifestyle changes driven by the rise of single-person households. A panel of 10 judges, composed of design experts and opinion leaders from Korea and Sweden, evaluated the submissions based on creativity, aesthetics, thematic relevance, and impact.
Ambassador Karl-Olof Andersson, the Ambassador of Sweden to Korea, visited the exhibition on Day 2 and met with the young designers.
Scroll down to look at the projects and download the KSYDA catalog below:
The Ambassador with Jisu Yoon, 2025 KSYDA Finalist
*Re-flat Pack Sofa: A sustainable flat-pack sofa designed for efficient transport, usability, and durability
The Ambassador with Gena Park, 2025 KSYDA Finalist
*Re-Flower: An alternative material made from plant-based waste, designed to replace single-use plastic flower packaging
*Re:Park(Jeongin Kim): A project that transfroms numerous urban parking spaces into community areas for citizens
*Object Unusual(Minkyu Park): An object colletion project that explores traditional knots and uses rope as a versatile structural element
*All-in-One(Taekhui Jung): A kitchen appliance to enhance the dining experience of single-person households in compact studio kitchens
*Magmoss(Hyunkyung Yoo): A sustainable, modular magnetic moss planter providing a fresh environmnet, inspired by moss's biological traits
Introducing the 3 Winners
ROLLWALKER by YOON Taehyun
Roll Walker is an indoor walking aid designed not just as a functional device, but as a lifestyle object that supports a dignified later life. With 74.8% of elderly falls occurring indoors, it features a form and aesthetic that fits naturally into the home environment. By avoiding the typical appearance of a medical equipment, the design aims to reduce psychological resistance.
RAINDROP by Lim Junwoo
Raindrop highlights the often-overlooked cycles of nature. By using rainwater, a pure and eco-friendly resource, it offers a simple and easy, engaging way for single-person households to care for plants.
BITTEULDA(LIGHTWIST) by Lee Hanna
Lightwist is a transformable lighting inspired by a lighthouse, designed to address the emotional isolation of single-person households. For those without an outlet for their emotions, this light adjusts it direction and brightness to offer personalized comfort for each user.
The Catalog (Download the attached file below)
