Meet illustrator from Seoul,  Seo young

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m Seo young who is working as an illustrator. I have built my career by doing various works such as advertising, album art, music video, animation, and publishing.

Describe the city you’re living in and what it’s like to live there.

I live in Seoul, Korea. It’s very crowded and everything is fast. I like the variety in Seoul. It’s very urban, but a little out of the center, it’s quiet and it has a completely different atmosphere.

I live in Seoul, Korea. It’s very crowded and everything is fast. I like the variety in Seoul. It’s very urban, but a little out of the center, it’s quiet and it has a completely different atmosphere.

What is the best and worst thing about living in your city?

The best things are convenient transportation and lots of delicious things. The bad thing is that the atmosphere of the city doesn’t give us time to relax.

Give us 3 words that describe what it’s like to be a creative in your city.

Production, Revealing Existence, Connecting

How did you start your career in art?

I like to draw, so I’ve set my career path this way since I was young. I went to art school, and after graduation, I worked in animation and became an illustrator.

I like to draw, so I’ve set my career path this way since I was young. I went to art school, and after graduation, I worked in animation and became an illustrator.

Were the people around you supportive of your decision on working as a creative?

First, my family encouraged and supported me. And no one was particularly dissuading me, and I was trying to be a creator. Everyone was worried about how to make money from art, but they didn’t stop it.

What are some goals and ambitions you have for your future work?

Being able to continue my work for decades. The only ambition is to work steadily. I want to find things that meet me naturally if I continue.

The only ambition is to work steadily.

If you could collaborate with any person in the world who would it be?

Well, there’s too much. I like working with female artists in other creative fields such as female musicians, novelists, etc. Rather than working with someone specific, I would like to work on the genealogy of Korean female K-pop girl groups.

What are the biggest challenges you face in working as a creative?

I think it’s wrist health and mental health. When you feel sick, you get tired quickly even if you want to, so you can’t do anything when you’re mentally sick, and you become lethargic. So it is very difficult to find the balance of life and try to keep a healthy routine every day.

They are curious and go to their own places.

How would you describe the women around you?

They are curious and go to their own places.

Were there any local female creatives that you looked up to when you were growing up?

Unfortunately, there is no female artist who is more experienced than me. But many female artists who appear in SNS are examples to me.

To forget fear is to continue to create.

Do you have any advice for other women who are aspiring to work in your field?

I hope you work a lot, and don’t be afraid to show your work. To forget fear is to continue to create.

What’s your favorite local food spot?

Nearby, I like sandwich and tteokbokki restaurants.

Akane Malbeni asks: What are you into outside of being a creative?

To read a book. To study shallowly about areas you don’t know (because it’s hard to study deep, just for fun).

Deborah Lee asks: What do you like most about your work?

I like the atmosphere of my works and the storytelling that permeates.

Anushka Tendolkar asks: Have you ever had imposter syndrome? How did you overcome it?

Sure, always. When that happens, I think about my previous performance and think about a list of things I did well. And I promise myself that I will do my best this time as well.

What question would you like us to ask the next artist?

What is your favorite process of working?

Photos courtesy of Seo young