By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
What do actress Han Ga-in, the daughter of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the wife of star baseball player Lee Seung-yeop have in common? All these women got married wearing exquisite wedding gowns made by couture designer Hwang Jae-bock.
Hwang, one of the most sought after designers in the country, is known for creating gowns that can turn any woman into a princess on her wedding day.
In an interview with The Korea Times at her shop in Gangnam, Hwang cannot help getting excited when talking about designing dream wedding gowns. ``A woman wears a wedding dress only once in a lifetime. For that day, you have to feel really beautiful. Since it's an important day in your life, it's important to find a designer that will give you your dream dress,'' she said.
Hwang has a keen sense of what a Korean bride, or any bride for that matter, wants to wear. After all, she has been designing wedding gowns for Korea's elite for over 18 years.
An English Literature graduate from Ewha Womans University, Hwang was always interested in fashion, and received a master's degree in fashion design. But before she could start a career in fashion, she got married and had two children.
With the decision to be a wife and mother, it took her some time before she could pursue her dream of becoming a fashion designer. It was only when her children started school that she decided to start a business.