Kim Rieul (real name Kim Jong Won), the renowned hanbok designer known for working with global K-pop group BTS, has passed away at the age of 32.
On February 12th, Kim Rieul’s family confirmed his passing in a phone call with Hankyung.com, stating, “It is true that Kim Rieul passed away yesterday.” They added that they would provide further information regarding the cause of death at a later time.
Born in 1993, Kim Rieul has been modernizing traditional Korean hanbok fabrics into contemporary suits since 2016 under his brand RIEUL.
BTS members Jimin, Suga and J-Hope garnered attention when they wore Kim Rieul’s hanbok suits during their performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in October 2020.
The late designer also collaborated with major brands and government agencies, including British luxury car brand McLaren, Samsung Galaxy S21, Gyeongju Kolon Hotel and the Cultural Heritage Administration. He was named one of Forbes’s “30 Under 30 Asia 2023” for his influential work.
Kim expressed his aspirations at a forum last November, saying, “I want people to confidently name RIEUL when asked about Korea’s high-end brands.” His sudden passing has left many mourning the loss of a promising designer.
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