Business · Companies · 9 hrs ago
Designer Park Jong-seo invests 10 billion won to train young car designers
South Korean car designer Park Jong-seo invested 10 billion won of his own money in a facility to train younger designers after leaving his job.
He worked for 25 years at a major car company and helped design models including the Scoupe, Tiburon, Santa Fe and Avante.
He joined the company at 33 after working as a TV designer and later studied car design at the Royal College of Art in Britain.
He said money was so tight while studying that he ate bread on a bench and used discarded tape to draw car designs.
A brain tumour diagnosis led him to leave the company at 57 after surgery left him without sensation on one side of his face and without hearing.
He said he is investing in training because design can help make a country prosperous.
His facility aims to prepare the next generation of South Korean car designers, and he hopes they will build on the work of earlier designers.
Designer Park Jong-seo said he invested 10 billion won of his own money to train the next generation of car designers.
He made the disclosure on an EBS program broadcast on October 14.
Park worked for 25 years at a South Korean car company and contributed to designs including the Scoupe, Tiburon, Santa Fe and Avante.
He left the company at age 57 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor and losing sensation on one side of his face and his hearing after surgery.
He said he is investing in design education because “the power of design makes a country rich.”
- Who
- Park Jong-seo, a first-generation South Korean car designer.
- What
- He said he invested 10 billion won of his own money to establish a facility to train young car designers.
- When
- He disclosed the investment on an EBS program broadcast on October 14, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea; the facility’s specific location is not stated.
- Why
- He said design can help make a country rich and that he hopes more designers will help South Korea thrive.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Park was selected as his company’s first car designer after working as a television designer.
He studied car design at the Royal College of Art in the UK and recalled financial hardship.
Park said he lost sensation on one side of his face and his hearing.
Park left the company after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.
He invested 10 billion won of his own money in a car design education facility.
Park appeared on EBS’s “Seo Jang-hoon’s Next-Door Millionaire” and discussed his career and investment.
- Investment
- 10 billion won of his own money
- Company tenure
- 25 years
- Retirement age
- 57
- Education
- Royal College of Art, UK
- Featured program
- EBS’s “Seo Jang-hoon’s Next-Door Millionaire
3 sources
What people are saying
The power of design makes a country rich.
I drive a 26-year-old car, but I hope many designers who will help raise South Korea will emerge, building on the cars I made.
I intended the rear lights to look like a fox’s eyes to a car following behind.