RIP, Andre Kim.
This year, as part of my portrait project, I wanted to take a really edgy portrait of Andre Kim, and I heard he was pretty open to such media inquiries, especially from foreigners. However, when I would mention this to most Korean people, or even to some prominent folks in fashion, they would all laugh and dismissively say, "He's not a real fashion designer anymore," or "Look at his sprayed-on hair!" Or "Why does he always wear that silly white outfit?" Now, he's gone, and the country seems to realize that there's never been a South Korea without Andre Kim.
I just think that people should have remembered more just how many contributions he made, not only as a fashion designer, but also as a Korean citizen representing his country overseas at a time when nobody had even heard of South Korea. That fact doesn't change whether one is alive or dead, and people should be able to appreciate others for what they have done, especially for their country, well before they go off and die. Even if said person decides to spray on his hair in his 70s or wear white all the time. The man still did more for Korean fashion and his country before the age of 35 then any other Korean fashion designer, or even most other prominent Koreans, have in their entire lives. It would behoove us to remember people like that for what they contributed well before they pass away. And to allow oh that results in respect to hold our wayward tongues.