Hanseo Jeong (born in 2002) is a fashion designer based in Seoul, South Korea, known for her meticulous craftsmanship and poetic approach to design. Currently completing her final semester at Hanyang University, Jeong specializes in beadwork and lace, with professional experience in wedding couture and K-pop performance costumes.
Her viral video showcasing the making of a stage outfit—amassing over 1.2 million views—sparked collaborations with stylists and celebrities, marking her as one of Korea’s emerging fashion talents.
Her graduate collection, “Wonderland,” explores the contrast between imagination and reality through two personas: The Stranger and The Native. Each piece fuses fantasy with form, translating her hand-drawn illustrations into richly detailed garments.
Poised to pursue a master’s degree in Paris, Jeong aspires to present her work on international runways and ultimately establish her own boutique in Europe, bringing her dreamlike aesthetic to a global audience.
At just 23, Seoul-based designer Hanseo Jeong is redefining modern couture through intricate beadwork, ethereal lace, and imaginative storytelling. Her graduate collection, “Wonderland,” transforms inner worlds into tangible art, blending surreal fantasy with wearable structure. After her K-pop stage outfit-making video went viral—garnering over 1.2 million views—Jeong’s talent for merging craft and emotion caught the attention of stylists and celebrities alike. As she approaches graduation from Hanyang University, Jeong looks toward Paris to expand her creative
universe and bring her enchanting vision to the international fashion stage.
Can you share a little about your background? Where did you grow up, and what were your early influences in fashion?
I was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea.
I actually didn’t start out with a strong interest in fashion—it wasn’t until I entered university and began studying it as my major that I really got into the field.
In my second and third year, I became the head of our department’s fashion society. As the leader, I had to teach other students, which pushed me to study harder and take the role seriously.
That’s when I started to see real growth in my skills.
At one point, a few members of the society expressed interest in learning how to make dresses.
While I was already familiar with making ready-to-wear, I had no experience with dresses.
Wanting to help them, I enrolled in a dressmaking academy myself—and that’s where my fascination with dresses began.
I ended up enjoying it so much that I took a leave of absence and worked as a designer at a dress atelier. Looking back, it all feels like a series of coincidences, but I also believe these moments came from being fully committed to each opportunity life gave me. It felt like both effort and fate brought me here.
What’s a typical day like for you? How do you balance your time between designing, studying, and personal life?
I’m currently in my final semester of university, and to be honest, I don’t have a fixed routine—partly because of the nature of my field.
On days when I go to school, I attend my classes and also tutor younger students afterward. On days I stay home, I usually work on personal projects or study pattern-making.
So it’s hard to say I have a clear balance between design, academics, and personal life. I don’t separate them strictly, and I’m quite spontaneous—I tend to start things based on inspiration and spend my time figuring it out as I go. My schedule changes a lot, but I think that’s what allows me to stay flexible and creative.
Fashion can be an intense and demanding field. Do you have any daily habits or healthy methods that help you stay creative and focused?
One thing I’m really grateful for is being part of a generation where social media is so accessible.
I don’t necessarily carve out special time for inspiration—instead, I often scroll through fashion-related content while commuting or during free moments. I come across photos, articles, and videos about design techniques and creative work. Thanks to today’s technology, it’s incredibly easy to discover new styles and ideas, and I love how algorithms curate content that matches my interests.
It might sound simple, but I learn a lot that way.
And like many Korean designers would agree—iced coffee is essential during high-intensity projects or deep focus sessions. Even in the middle of winter!
Outside of fashion, what are some of your hobbies or interests?
Besides listening to music while I work, I honestly don’t have many hobbies outside of fashion. Design is both my work and my passion.
Because of that, I don’t feel a lot of stress when working, and I think it allows me to put more time and energy into it. There’s always something to do—researching references, sketching, learning new techniques, or making things by hand.
What I love about fashion is that there’s always something more to learn, and that constant sense of discovery keeps it exciting for me.
Your work is known for its intricate beadwork and lace designs. What draws you to these elements, and how do they define your creative style?
I’ve loved glamorous and sparkly things ever since I was young—and I still do. I naturally gravitate toward beautiful, delicate elements in design.
But what really drew me into using beadwork and lace was my experience working in the wedding industry. That exposure had a big impact on me and shaped my appreciation for detailed, ornamental work.
As for my creative identity, I’m still in the process of defining it. I wouldn’t say I’ve fully established a fixed style yet. I’m still experimenting with different aesthetics and expressing them in my own way as I grow as a designer.
You have experience in wedding couture and K-pop stage costumes. How do these two worlds influence your design process?
Both wedding couture and K-pop styling require a strong sense of drama and visual impact. They also rely heavily on intensive handwork and attention to detail, which I became accustomed to through work.
As a result, I naturally developed a taste for visually dense, high-detail designs, and that’s something I now bring into my own work. Because I’ve worked hands-on with those elements, I feel confident working with lace and beadwork—maybe even more so than designers focused solely on ready-to-wear.
While those techniques are common in wedding and K-pop styling, I think having the ability to apply them to ready-to-wear pieces as well is a unique strength that sets my work apart.
Last year, your video on the K-pop stage outfit-making process went viral, reaching over 1.2 million views. How did this moment impact your career?
One of the best things about that experience was how it made it easier for people to remember me and my work—whether during introductions, networking, or collaborations.
As a designer, I believe it’s not just about creating great work. Visibility and promotion are important too. Designing for a K-pop artist gave my brand a lot of exposure and opened doors.
After the video went viral, I also received collaboration inquiries from several stylists, which led to new opportunities.
Have any particular collaborations or projects from this exposure stood out to you?
Yes—after the video gained attention, I was contacted by stylists working with K-pop artists as well as stylists based in Europe.
At the time, though, I hadn’t fully completed my business registration, so I wasn’t in a position to take on official production work. It was a bit disappointing not to move forward with those offers, but it also motivated me to be better prepared for future opportunities.
As you prepare for graduation, what are your aspirations for expanding your work internationally? Are there any specific regions or markets you are targeting?
After graduation, I’m planning to pursue a master’s degree in Paris.
Thanks to the growing recognition of my work, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate internationally. Those experiences made me realize how much I wanted to work in a place where fashion is a core industry, beyond just a trend.
Among many options, Paris stood out as the place where I could grow creatively and professionally. I’m hopeful that people will soon be able to experience my work there in person—and one day, I dream of opening my own boutique in Europe. That would be an incredible honor.
Let’s talk about your graduate collection,
Wonderland. What inspired the concept, and how did you develop the theme?
When people hear the word Wonderland, they often think of Alice in Wonderland. But in my case, I wanted to explore a Wonderland of my own imagination—a world that exists only inside my mind.
A graduation collection is such a symbolic moment for a designer, so I spent a long time thinking about the right theme. I decided to tell a story about myself by visualizing this dreamlike inner world. The term Wonderland felt perfect—strange, mysterious, and beautiful.
I asked myself: What kind of world would this be? Who lives there? I imagined beings that don’t exist in reality—beautiful yet bizarre figures that defy conventional expectations.
In my program, the graduation requirement was two fashion looks and one jewelry piece. It’s a small number compared to full collections at other schools, so I needed a strong concept.
That’s when I came up with two characters: “The Native”, who lives in my imaginary world, and “The Stranger”, who represents myself in reality. Through this contrast, I wanted to express both sides of my inner universe.
How did you balance structure and fantasy in your designs to distinguish between the characters?
Since The Native is a being that lives inside Wonderland, I wanted the design to feel unreal and fantastical. I used bold colors, surreal silhouettes, and visual intensity to make the piece feel closer to artwear than ready-to-wear. The goal was to emphasize its non-human, imaginative nature.
On the other hand, The Stranger, or the adventurer, comes from the outside world—so I used more streetwear-inspired elements, like a rider jacket and a bodysuit, to reflect the everyday reality beyond Wonderland.
Even though the two looks are clearly different in concept, I used similar materials and construction techniques across both to create a sense of cohesion. This way, the designs feel like they exist in the same universe, while still clearly representing two distinct characters with contrasting origins.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced in bringing your illustrations to life?
The biggest challenge was definitely creating the custom materials for both the balloon dress and the bodysuit. While I had tried small-scale fabric development in past projects, this was my first time attempting something at such a large scale.
For the balloon dress skirt, I wanted a natural gradient effect using lace in different shades, flowing seamlessly across each panel. To make this happen, I carefully arranged similar-toned lace pieces to follow the shape of the pattern, which took a lot of planning and precision.
Both the skirt and the front and back panels of the bodysuit were made using multiple types of lace, and I hand-beaded every section, one by one. If you look closely at the final photos, you’ll notice that every piece of lace is densely covered with intricate beadwork, adding depth and texture throughout the design.
If you could see your Wonderland collection worn by anyone—whether a celebrity, performer, or public figure—who would it be and why?
This one’s an easy answer for me—Jennie from BLACKPINK!
From the moment I started designing The Native look in my Wonderland collection, I kept thinking how incredible it would be if Jennie wore it. I imagined her striking a magical pose in the dress, wearing long gloves, almost like Sailor Moon mid-transformation. That image really inspired the direction of the design.
Jennie has always been a captivating figure, but I was especially inspired by her past campaigns with Gentle Monster. I’d be truly honored to one day collaborate with Jennie—or even with Gentle Monster. That would be a dream come true.
What are your dream collaborations or future projects?
As I mentioned earlier, I’d love to work on projects that involve celebrities or brands across different fields.
I still feel like it’s too early to define any limits to my design approach, so I want to keep experimenting with new genres and collaborations that help me shape my own creative identity.
Ultimately, one of my dreams is to showcase my collection at Fashion Week.
I’m always open to collaborations, so if anyone’s interested—please feel free to reach out anytime! 🙂
Do you see yourself staying in Seoul, or do you have plans to move abroad for your career?
As I mentioned earlier, I’m planning to move abroad—not just for my master’s degree, but also to gain experience working in different cultures and environments. I want to explore diverse perspectives and learn new ways of working beyond Korea.
What do you do to unwind and find inspiration outside of work?
I don’t believe inspiration appears out of nowhere—it comes from constant input.
That’s why I make a habit of absorbing as many references as possible in daily life, whether it’s images, articles, or visuals, and storing them unconsciously in my mind. I think that kind of passive collecting is really important for creativity.
That said, when I actually take time to relax, I usually unwind by watching Netflix.
How do you stay healthy and energized while managing your busy schedule?
A lot of people in creative fields tend to skip meals when they’re busy working—but in Korea, we have a saying:
“Koreans run on rice.”
That reflects how important proper meals are, especially when you’re working long hours. So I try to always eat properly, even during my busiest times, and I make it a point to get a certain amount of sleep, no matter what.
Even just sticking to those two habits goes a long way in helping me stay healthy and energized.
What is one fashion trend you love right now, and one you would never include in your designs?
One trend I really love right now is the influence of lingerie on mainstream fashion.
Lingerie is one of the closest garments to the body—it really showcases the natural form.
As someone who primarily designs dresses and womenswear, I find this trend incredibly inspiring, and it’s a field I want to continue learning about.
I also believe that as a designer, you should constantly study and understand the human body—it’s something I’ll be exploring for the rest of my life.
As for trends I’d never use… honestly, I don’t think I have any.
I don’t like limiting myself when it comes to design. Even styles that are completely different from my own can teach me something valuable, so at this stage, I want to keep myself open to everything.
Finally, what advice would you give to aspiring fashion designers who are just starting their journey?
Try everything. Be open to challenges. Stay curious and always keep learning.
The only way to figure out what suits you—or doesn’t—is by actually trying it. It’s through trial and error that we discover what makes a great design and what doesn’t.
Of course, it’s ideal to pour your heart into every single project, but I also think it’s important to remember that every project is just one step in a bigger journey. To all the emerging designers out there, myself included—I look forward to the day we cross paths in the field.