Jo Sang-gyeong

Before specializing in cinema, Jo maintained a diverse freelance portfolio that included commercial installation art, interior design, stage art, and tutoring. She has cited her time in theater as foundational to her understanding of lighting and costume interaction.^[1]

While working on stage design at the Korea National University of Arts, Jo met art director Ryu Seong-hie, who had recently returned from the United States. At the time, the role of "art director" was still an emerging concept in the Korean film industry. Ryu recruited Jo to handle costumes for the action-noir film No Blood No Tears (2002). The success of this collaboration led to Jo receiving offers from prominent "Korean New Wave" directors, including Ryoo Seung-wan, Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho, and Kim Jee-woon. Jo initially viewed costume design as a hobby rather than a formal career path, a mindset she credits for her professional longevity and lack of burnout. Although she was offered the costume design role for Memories of Murder (2003), she had to decline due to her pregnancy.^[1]

While she briefly contemplated retiring to focus on childcare, she found domestic life unfulfilling and decided to return to work. Following a positive encounter with director Bong Man-dae, she accepted the costume design role for The Sweet Sex and Love and continued her career through her pregnancy. This was followed by her work on Park Chan-wook's Oldboy (2003). Her career continued to ascend with high-profile productions such as The Host (2006), Tazza: The High Rollers (2006), and Modern Boy (2008).^[2][3][4][5]

Jo established Studio Gomgom, in Dongdaemun Seoul. In 2014, the studio was moved to Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. Her team includes costume designers Kwak Jong-ae, Son Na-ri, and Yoon Jeong-hee.^[6][7][8][9] Jo mentioned Oldboy, Modern Boy, The Front Line, and The Concubine as the defining projects that shifted her professional philosophy. Expanding her repertoire in 2017, she also designed the costumes for the musical Arirang.^[10]

Jo met Oh Man-seok when both were students at the Korea National University of Arts. After dating for a year and half, they married in 2001. The couple divorced in May 2007 but remain friends.^[11][12] They have a daughter named Oh Young-joo.^[13]