Conversations with Uijung Kim

Today we’d like to introduce you to Uijung Kim. 

Hi Uijung, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I was born in Gunsan, Korea which is about a 3-hour drive from Seoul. It is small mountain and fishing town. I grew up with four older brothers and very busy parents, and I am the only girl in my family. I grew up in a very protective environment, even my friends too. I was not a very good kid, had a lot of fights, and I was just selfish…but I am very funny girl. 

I was studying fine art and design at Gunsan university, and I took a class called children’s book illustration… I had to make a children’s book in the class and I loved, so I decided to be a children’s book illustrator. My professor suggested to me to go USA to learn illustration. She recommended CCS (College for Creative Studies in Detroit), and she graduated from the University of Michigan, so she knew CCS is a good art school. 

So, I applied and got accepted to CCS. I studied illustration. During the summer break, I did an internship at Reader’s Digest, as a children’s book layout designer. And after I graduated, I moved to New York with my boyfriend to get a job and get a working visa. We packed all our stuff in one car and drove to New York with very little money. I worked in many places like a scarf company, and handbag company: I learned how to make patterns, retouching, and photography. I was so into pattern design so I worked at pattern design company… and sometimes I freelanced for reader’s digest and Scholastic Books as a layout designer. I needed money to survive, so I worked as much as I can. 

After that, my boyfriend and I got married, and I quit my job and my husband encouraged me to become an illustrator. So here I am! 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I have so many obstacles. First, I didn’t know English so I had to learn the ABCs first when I was 24 years old. It was very hard, took me years~ to learn…I still struggle with English. I applied so many jobs and didn’t get it because of English skills. Well… Eventually, I made a job for myself! 

Second, my husband and I moved to New York – it was very hard! Finding an apartment, waiting at the DMV for hours, subway delays, meeting friends, finding a job, even doing laundry, parking and moving a car on the streets every week, getting groceries… We lived almost 8 years in NYC. We started poor but ended up saving money and were able to buy a house in Michigan. After everything though, I am thankful that I had all these experiences. 

And I struggle all the time with my work. I am trying to make a good art, never satisfied. Well, I guess this is a good challenge because every day I want to be better! 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an illustrator! I do work for children’s books, advertisements, editorial magazines, etc. I specialize in very simple and cute art, bright colors, and happy imagery. My goal is to make people smile with my art. I am proud that I was able to survive as an illustrator in the USA! 

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
My family (my husband and my dog). They support me and make me laugh all the time, spending time with them just makes me happy. And I have had people reach out to me and say that my art makes them happy. That really gives me purpose to keep making art. Making people happy with my art makes me really happy! 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.uijungkim.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uijungkim/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UijungKimillustration
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/UijungKim
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/UijungKim

Image Credits
Picture name: PAND20-PM_Uijung-Kim – Credit: PLANADVISER Magazine / Art Director: SooJin Buzelli Picture name: New-York-City_UijungKim- Credit: Link NYC Picture name: BlanketDesign-for_UijungKim_web- Credit: Throw&co (https://throwandco.bigcartel.com/product/no-131) Picture name: Undergroundcover_UijungKim_Cover- Credit: Cicada Books (shorturl.at/hmHS2) Picture name: Benefits+Integration- PLANADVISER Magazine / Art Director: SooJin Buzelli Picture name: iameatingicecream and LaundryDay_Uijungkim- Personal work