Inheritage · Singapore
“We want to prove that age does not limit what you can achieve.”
A conversation with Lynn Wong, Founder of Inheritage.
Social Impact HubEldercare
“My goal is for society to see our Special Designers as artists, no different from anyone else.”
A conversation with Jangwon Nam, Co-founder of Kimu Studio.
- Founder
- Jangwon Nam, Jinjoo Park, Seung-kyu Kong, and Minseok Kim
- Company
- Kimu Studio
- Founded
- 2018
- HQ
- Seoul, South Korea
- Sector
- Social ImpactIP licensing
- Funding
- Seed
- NUS connection
- B71Social Impact Hub
At the recent SWITCH 2025 lab crawl experience hosted by the B71 Social Impact Hub, Kimu Studio’s booth drew curious visitors with its bold prints and striking graphics on display. A cheeky cow, a blazing sun on its back, rendered in five contrasting colours? Check. An illustrated double-decker bus crowned with an impossibly lush rooftop garden? Check. Each piece seemed to challenge perception itself: vivid, playful, and unapologetically imaginative.
One might expect the creative force behind such mind-bending illustrations to be equally flamboyant. Instead, as co-founder of Kimu Studio, Mr Jangwon Nam cuts a quiet, unassuming figure, a sharp contrast to the bold illustrative art he champions.
But this juxtaposition makes perfect sense once you understand his philosophy: the art isn’t about him at all. It’s about showing the world the undeniable talent of his team of special designers behind the scenes.
Origin: Artist-Turned-Accidental Entrepreneur
Becoming a business owner was never part of Mr Nam’s game plan in life. As an arts major specialising in ceramics, Mr Nam is an artist at heart. Yet, looking back, he reminisces that life seemed to have unfolded in such a way that entrepreneurship became a natural progression.
He was first exposed to social work when conducting art education sessions for individuals with developmental disabilities at a welfare centre.
"When the session ended, I was supposed to throw away the art pieces drawn by the participants. I thought it was such a waste. These art pieces were great from my perspective, so I kept them as I wanted more people to see and appreciate them."
Jangwon Nam
He then did a blind test, roping in his arts professors, colleagues and other professionals in fine arts, and they were really impressed by the quality and creativity behind the art pieces.
"When someone asked, ‘Who is the illustrator behind this piece? Can I buy it?’ I knew there's genuine talent behind these art pieces and opportunities to bring out their full potential."
Jangwon Nam
He then founded Kimu Studio with his wife, Jinjoo Park, and his childhood friends Seung-kyu Kong and Minseok Kim.
Build: Working with Special Designers
Kimu Studio is a social-impact creative studio that collaborates with individuals with developmental disabilities to produce distinctive artworks that challenge societal conventions, prejudice, and promote inclusion. The company operates a scalable business model that provides creative art products and services to B2B and B2C markets globally.
Besides its Art Signature collection, a limited edition art collection that allows people to own a piece of art by Special Designers, Kimu Studio has also partnered with Samsung Electronics, Ferrero Rocher, KOMSCO and other global companies on ESG campaigns by providing design and content development services.
"I want people to see the art first and foremost, experience it and tell me how they feel about it. Everyone has a different interpretation that, when shared, reveals a part of you, to me. There is no right or wrong in art, and that's the beauty of it."
Jangwon Nam
However, Mr Nam is quick to clarify that his purpose here is not to “help the disabled.” Rather, he hopes the audience to appreciate art for what is it, to them, and see what he does as bringing talented people together, each person doing what they’re best at.
"We are digitalising all our artworks and have over 40,000+ digital content IP assets to date. New designs are uploaded weekly so our customers anywhere in the world can access and purchase them anytime based on their needs."
Jangwon Nam
Beyond bringing art to market, Mr Nam wants his special designers to find a meaningful vocation. Having cultivated in-depth expertise in working with Special Designers, Kimu Studio now provides job training services for individuals with developmental disabilities, employment matching support, and design support services for companies seeking inclusive employment. These bridging services are proving popular, driving 40% of the revenue for Kimu Bridge, with YG Entertainment and Eugene Investment & Securities Co. Ltd signed on as long-term partners.
"Now that we're in Singapore, I want to bring this model of content collaboration with corporates and create limited art editions here. My goal is for society to see our Special Designers as artists, no different from anyone else. One of my best friends and co-founder, Seung-kyu, has to use a wheelchair since childhood due to polio, and yet today he's thriving in Silicon Valley. His journey is proof of what's possible when people have access to the right opportunities." "That's what drives Kimu Studio: ensuring everyone can reach their full potential."
Jangwon Nam
Business Milestones
2018:
- Incorporated KIMU Studios in Korea
- Received seed investment from MashUp Ventures and Krypton VC
2019:
- Excellence Award at the Impact Investment Pitch Competition organised by the Korea Arts Management Service
2020:
- Grand Prize at the Impact Investment Pitch Competition (Seongdong District)
2021:
- Excellence Award at the Impact Investment Pitch Competition organised by Uh!Ventures
2022:
- Secured a second round of investment for the KIMU Bridge partnership programme
- Received the Excellence Award at the Social Contribution Partners Day by the Korea
- National Council on Social Welfare
2023:
- Winner of the Main Award at Chicago’s Good Design Award
- Received Commendation for Social Innovation Companies from the Governor of Gyeonggi Province
2025:
- Selected for and participated in the TS2 Accelerator Programme, jointly organised by NUS Enterprise and raiSE (Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise)
- Successfully completed a KRW 500 million (USD ~370,000) investment round in Korea
- Awarded the Korea Arts Management Award, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award
Lesson's Learned
Kimu Studio’s Guide to Building a Business in South Korea
- 01
Run a lightweight market test with Korean users:
These can be e-surveys, a landing page, or interviews via local partners. Do this before committing to relocating or investing heavily.
- 02
Tradition meets hyper-digital here:
Korea is one of the world's most advanced digital societies, with widespread 5G, e-commerce, fintech, and automated government services. Yet meetings still follow traditional etiquette, from seating order to business card exchange, so foreign founders must navigate a cutting-edge yet highly codified culture.
- 03
Join at least one expat or founder community in South Korea:
Attend start-up or freelancer meetups and begin building your local network as early as possible.
- 04
Fully Korean operations:
While foreigners can own a company in Korea, almost all core procedures, contracts, tax, courts, filings, banking, run in Korean and follow Korean regulations and standards. This makes a reliable Korean-speaking partner or service provider critical to your business success.
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