Christian Dior apologizes for defamatory ad photo

Christian Dior made an apology after “Korean Female,” a piece by photographer Lee Wan included in its exhibition, stirred controversy that it was demeaning to Korean women.

By Yoon Ja-young

Luxury goods company Christian Dior apologized for a controversial photo it exhibited, after facing criticism that the photo seems to be disparaging Korean women as selling sex to buy a luxury bag.

The luxury fashion brand released an apology, Tuesday, regarding a piece by artist Lee Wan that was displayed at the “Lady Dior as Seen by” exhibition it hosted. The exhibition was held at House of Dior, a flagship store it opened in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul, to depict the Dior bags in diverse art pieces.

Among the art pieces was “Korean Female,” a photo showing a young woman wearing a black dress revealing both her shoulders and holding a Lady Dior bag in her left arm, standing in an alleyway filled with signs for room salons and hostess bars.

It drew criticism that the photo is demeaning to Korean woman as willing to sell sex to buy luxury bags. The artist had said in an earlier interview with Dior that all Christian Dior products are manufactured in a way that is totally different from the capitalist way focusing on effectiveness. “I thought about the value there and what the meaning of consuming Christian Dior was in Korea,” he said.

The exhibition started on Feb. 23, showing diverse art pieces that have Lady Dior bag as a motif. For the Seoul exhibition, creations by some Korean artists were added.

Dior removed the photo from the exhibition. It said in a press release that Dior stresses the progressive spirit of women, making efforts to arouse their self-esteem, develop respect for women and enhance their rights. Supporting women’s beauty and happiness and enjoying art and culture are the utmost values that Christian Dior follows, it added.

Lee has been in the spotlight since 2014 after winning the Art Spectrum Award by Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, for his depictions of Southeast Asian laborers.