Jang Se-wook, Vice Chairman of Dongkuk Steel Group, is taking a direct role in nurturing future architecture talent.
On July 30, Dongkuk Steel Group announced that it held a ceremony at its headquarters, Ferum Tower in Suha-dong, Seoul, to officially appoint seven university students as the first class of the 2026 Songwon Future Architecture Fellowship, known as Luxteelier.
During the ceremony, Jang Se-wook, who is also the chairman of the Songwon Cultural Foundation, personally presented the appointment certificates to the selected fellows.
To provide differentiated experiences and growth opportunities for future architecture talent, Dongkuk Steel Group established the Songwon Future Architecture Fellowship, a practical program. This first selection saw 116 applicants from 43 universities, resulting in a competitive ratio of approximately 17 to 1. The final interviews included experts in the field of architecture, such as Professor Jang Yoon-kyu from Kookmin University and Professor Kim Jae-kyung from Hanyang University, who helped select the final seven candidates.
The selected fellows are Go Yu-jin (graduated from Konkuk University, Department of Architecture), Kim Se-yeon (graduated from Kyonggi University, Department of Architecture), Baek Seung-jae (currently studying at Inha University, Department of Architecture), Oh Chang-kyung (currently studying at Hanyang University, Graduate School of Architecture), Yoo Ji-hoo (graduated from Kookmin University, Department of Architecture), Lee Soo-bin (graduated from Dankook University, Department of Architecture), and Heo Sang-hyun (currently studying at Hongik University, College of Architecture and Urban Design).
The first class of Songwon Future Architecture fellows has been officially registered as members of Luxteelier and will embark on a seven-day architectural exploration in the UK from August 4 to 10, supported by Dongkuk Steel Group.
During the exploration, they will participate in a one-day workshop at the studio of renowned architect Thomas Heatherwick, visit iconic architectural sites in London, and engage with architecture professionals at museums and cultural spaces.
Luxteelier is an architectural talent network operated by Dongkuk Steel Group since 2017, aimed at discovering and fostering future architecture talent. This year’s selection of the Songwon Future Architecture Fellowship will expand its scale and support initiatives.
Dongkuk Steel Group plans to conduct the second selection of the Songwon Future Architecture Fellowship in the first half of next year, aiming to develop it into a distinctive program through regular annual selections.
Jang Se-wook expressed, "I hope the first class of fellows, selected through fierce competition, will take pride in their achievement. I look forward to seeing them grow into a close-knit community that collaborates to shape the future of architecture as members of Luxteelier."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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