Established in 2005, <Interior Decoration Courses> is the first and only full-time school for interior design education in South Korea. The school recruits students mostly from foreign countries with plans to notably increase Korean students after 2012. IDC provides an education that covers all aspects of interior decoration, including space planning, design drawing, interior design theory, and practice. The special feature of IDC lies in its applied education system with a two-year art program at Chungnam National University High School following by three years at Daejeon Institute of Science & Technology (DIST).
Having graduated many international students who are now working as interior designers or architects at renowned companies such as interior decoration courses Gensler, HOK, etc., as well as many other professions at home and abroad, the school has recently been focusing on educating Korean students to help them lead future changes in domestic interiors.
Interior Decoration Courses is currently looking for a new location to expand its facilities and training studios to meet growing demand, while actively participating in various design-related events such as <International Interior Design Association> (IIDA), <Korean institute of Architectural Education> (KIADE), etc. It is also publishing a series of books that aim to gradually improve the awareness of interior decoration education across Korea.
The following are excerpts from an interview with Mr. Yong Seok Oh, Director of DIST’s Interior Decoration Department. Q1: Tell us about your background and how you came to be involved with interior decoration.
I have always been interested in the design field, but I started my career as an architect instead of pursuing my own interests. It wasn’t until I joined DIST’s Interior Decoration Department that I realized what it meant to pursue your dreams. Q2: What are some special features of IDC?
We have a system whereby students can start their education at Chungnam National University High School before entering DIST, allowing them to learn about both art and science at the same time. There is also an active student exchange program with schools in other countries like Canada and Australia aimed at enhancing our international competitiveness.
