By Koh Young-aah

Korea makes its official New York fashion debut Feb. 12 through 14, while the city hosts the New York Fashion Week. The festival will feature a showroom-style exhibition titled "CONCEPT KOREA, fashion collective 2010" at the New York Public Library.

The event is co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korea Creative Content Agency, in collaboration with the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Asian heartthrob Rain will kick off the opening party set for Friday night in New York.

"It is noteworthy that the event is led by the government while internationally renowned fashion group CFDA is sponsoring," a culture ministry official said.

In the past, the government played only a partial role in designers' overseas advances. This time, the government is offering assistance in varioius areas from creating look books and operating websites to other fashion-related businesses, the official said.

"The partnership between Korean fashion and culture and the CFDA, which is kicked off by this opportunity, will greatly help Korea's competent design and culture to advance to foreign countries in the future," said Korean Culture Minister Yoo In-chon in a press release.

Six teams of top-rated Korean designers - Kim Suk-won and Yoon Won-jung (Andy & Debb), Hong Seung-wan (ROLIAT), Chung Ku-ho (KUHO), Park Chun-moo (DEMOO), Doii Lee (Doii Paris) and Jung Wook-juun (JUUN.J) - will participate in the exhibition. Among them, Chung Ku-ho will participate in the New York Collection with one of his lines, Hexa by KUHO.

"Concept Korea" has other offerings, including media artist Rosmarie Trockel, who will present collages of childhood photos of the participating Korean designers, and Curtis Anderson, known for his creative use of natural fabrics, who will feature paper objects inspired by works of Korean designers.

The exhibition will be overseen by well-known curator Wilfred Dickhoff.

Rain, star of Hollywood flick "Ninja Assassin," will open the opening party for "CONCEPT KOREA" while three-star Michelin chef Jean Georges presents diverse fusion Korean dishes inspired by hansik, or traditional Korean cuisine.

The list of attendees for the party is impressive and includes model Naomi Campbell, designers Ralph Lauren and Mark Jacobs, actresses Julia Roberts and Uma Thurman, and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, among others.

Visit www.conceptkorea.org for more information.

youngaah@heraldm.com