Two Koreans were in the spotlight at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, which came to a close Jan. 24.Oh Suk-geun, executive vice president of design at Hyundai Motor, and Kim Tae-wan, the managing director for design operations at GM Daewoo Auto and Technology, gained recognition for their innovative auto designs.
Both men were born in 1960. Oh graduated from the prestigious Art Center College of Design in California, and Kim studied at the Royal College of Art in London.
Oh was selected as one of the judges for the 2010 EyesOn Design Awards. He is the first Korean member of the judging committee, which was widely regarded as a sign of praise for the quality of Korean auto design from the global auto industry.
At the show, the Hyundai Genesis was named vehicle of the year, while the Sonata won raves for its coupe style and dynamic lines. “A car’s design should satisfy those who want a great car but should also inspire a powerful emotional reaction,” Oh said. “The Sonata is popular because of its affordable price and sleek design.”
Oh joined Hyundai Motor in 1985 after graduating from Seoul National University with a degree in industrial design. In 1989, the company supported his design study in the United States. While there, he designed a concept car that later became the Tiburon, a sports car.
It usually costs 3 billion won ($2.58 million) to design a concept car, but the design of the Tiburon cost only 400 million won.
Two other cars made big news at the auto show. The Lacetti Premiere, known in other markets as the Chevrolet Cruze, won acclaim for its simple yet smooth exterior. The Matiz Creative, also known as the Chevrolet Spark, was lauded for its motorcycle-like interior. The fact that the Spark appeared in the film “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” also drew curious auto show participants. The car will soon be launched in the U.S. market.
The designer of both vehicles was Kim, the other Korean to receive widespread recognition at the auto show. Kim was in high demand throughout the event and did over 30 interviews for publications including AutoWeek and Car Design News, an online magazine.
“Dynamism is important in auto design,” Kim said. “I like simple yet universal designs that people won’t easily get tired of.”
Kim joined I.A.D., a design company in Britain, after graduating from the Royal College of Art in London. From 2000 to 2005, he worked as a design consultant for Fiat, where he designed a concept car that was eventually introduced at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show and later became the Fiat 500, one of the most successful small cars developed by the Italian automaker.
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