Korean art and fashion brand Youk Shim Won establishes foothold in Hong Kong (with photos)
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     Korean art and fashion brand Youk Shim Won announced today (April 6) that it has opened its first Hong Kong store, leveraging on the city's international status to raise its brand image globally.

     Located at Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui, the new store sells fashion products based on the work of Korean artist Youk Shim Won, including bags, wallets, clothing, shoes, cosmetics and other lifestyle items. Youk Shim Won's brand concept is created from a woman's perspective and features an iconic image of a big-eyed, smiling female character in a series of products.

     The Chief Executive Officer of Youk Shim Won, Mr Jung Kyung-il, said that Korean brands are becoming popular in Hong Kong thanks to the influence of Korean pop music and TV dramas. He said that the company is riding on this Korean trend in establishing its foothold in the city. Apart from retail business, the company will also organise Youk Shim Won exhibitions and take part in more art-related activities in order to promote Youk's "happy woman" design concept. He added that their products are all designed and manufactured in Korea, and that the company looks forward to working with local partners in future.

     Mr Jung said, "Hong Kong is a city where east meets west, and attracts customers from around the world. Hence, it is a very important location for our overseas expansion. We hope to build our brand image globally from this city, making both Hong Kong and global customers aware of our brand concept.

     "We believe that Youk Shim Won products appeal to customers with a discerning taste for art. In addition, there are different culture and art activities in Hong Kong. This is another reason why we chose Hong Kong."

     Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion, Dr Jimmy Chiang, said, "Hong Kong's diverse art and culture scene not only creates demand for creative products but also provides cross-sectoral partnership opportunities. It is the best global window for Youk Shim Won's brand concept."

About Youk Shim Won

     Established in 2005, Youk Shim Won is an art and fashion brand based on the work of Korean artist Youk Shim Won, who is famous for creating paintings using oriental techniques. The brand is operated by Gallery AM and has more than 20 stores in Korea. It has opened six stores in the Mainland since 2015 including those in Shanghai, Tianjin, Chengdu, Qingdao and Changsha, and set up a presence in Hong Kong in 2016. For more information, please visit: www.youkworld.com.

About Invest Hong Kong

     Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government established in July 2000 to attract foreign direct investment and support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services to help businesses succeed in Hong Kongˇ¦s vibrant economy. As of December 2015, InvestHK had assisted over 3 820 companies which have created more than 41 200 new jobs in the first year of operation or expansion and over HK$101 billion of investment. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.

     For event photos, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72157666762930096.

Ends/Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:33

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