The Startup Support Group at Seoul National University of Science and Technology provides promising startups with space, mentoring, networking, and commercialization support through its Business Incubation Center, assisting in their growth. 'Startup in Science and Technology University' shares the stories of startups aspiring to leap forward, using the Business Incubation Center at Seoul National University of Science and Technology as their home.

Once, 'mother-of-pearl wardrobes' were popular as indispensable furniture in dowry culture despite their high prices, decorating homes. However, with lifestyle changes and apartment-centric residential structures, they faced the risk of fading into history, leaving behind past glory. On second-hand trading platforms, phrases like "Please take the mother-of-pearl wardrobe for free" often appeared, treating them as waste. A person discovered new possibilities in these discarded mother-of-pearl wardrobes. That person is Song Mi-young, CEO of the refurnishing company Miji Eum D&C, who has imbued new value into mother-of-pearl wardrobes by connecting tradition with modern design. Song Mi-young was met at the Business Incubation Center of Seoul National University of Science and Technology.

Song Mi-young, an expert in architecture and space design, had been engaged in interior construction and design business for over seven years when she felt the need to seek new growth drivers amid market changes. She found her answer in the area of 'traditional and environmental refurnishing based on waste resources,' which led to the birth of the Miji Eum D&C refurnishing brand 'ARAMCHAE.'

Song Mi-young stated, "ARAMCHAE goes beyond a simple idea, starting from 'empathy for tradition.' It seeks the coexistence of traditional culture and environmental protection," adding, "For example, we continue experiments to transform discarded mother-of-pearl wardrobes into new furniture and interior materials. In the past, mother-of-pearl wardrobes were as expensive as a house. While the older generation knows their value, the younger generation often discards them without knowing their use, which I found very wasteful. We reinterpret them modernly by adding mother-of-pearl to the neat traditional Korean window design that suits the Korean sentiment, transforming them under the name ARAMCHAE."

She continued, "While utilizing parts of the doors and panels of discarded mother-of-pearl wardrobes, we aim to form the ARAMCHAE product line that maintains a modern minimalist form, allowing tradition to be enjoyed without burden. Examples include clothing storage cabinets and hangers using mother-of-pearl parts, modern sofas with mother-of-pearl decorations applied to the lower part, and partitions and wall finishes combining mother-of-pearl, wood, and printed panels."



Embedding stories of mother-of-pearl wardrobes into products... Plans for emotion-based product launch

The uniqueness of ARAMCHAE does not stop at design. Song Mi-young stated, "Each person who owns a mother-of-pearl wardrobe has a story surrounding the product. Memories built from seeing the wardrobe in childhood or stories related to parents or grandparents who purchased it," adding, "We are considering a method of collecting these stories and engraving them inside the product as a nameplate. Consumers can experience a special journey of redesigned products imbued with history and emotion, rather than merely purchasing second-hand furniture."

Song Mi-young is an expert with extensive experience in space interior projects, having undertaken numerous projects such as subway platform convenience facilities, environmental improvements for elementary and middle schools, and public library interiors.

Song Mi-young stated, "Miji Eum D&C is an interior company with rich space experience, which is a strength in working on refurnishing furniture business with a high understanding of all areas, including function, construction, safety, and design," adding, "Currently, we are active in the Business Incubation Center at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, listening to the passion and sense of the younger generation through exchanges with other resident companies. Opinions from different generations serve as a significant stimulus in setting product development and design directions. Thanks to Seoul National University of Science and Technology, we receive support not only for workspace but also for entrepreneurship education and promotional mentoring."

The startup Miji Eum D&C also faces challenges to overcome.

Song Mi-young stated, "Due to the limitations of being a startup and the characteristics of mother-of-pearl wardrobe materials, standardization and mass production are impossible. Instead, we will compete with our unique story and design in refurnishing products, focusing on handcrafted quality," adding, "We plan to utilize the high reliability from public and educational institution construction experience and leverage the unique market position of emotion-based refurnishing, as well as trends in eco-friendliness, tradition, and K-culture."

Plans for promotion using online platforms have also been established.

Song Mi-young stated, "We plan to exhibit and sell products at places like Seongsu Gallery or select shops, and participate in overseas exhibitions to target overseas Koreans with memories of mother-of-pearl wardrobes," adding, "For those who find it difficult to visit in person, we plan to showcase products online in 360 degrees on platforms like Today's House. We also plan to create products recycling not only mother-of-pearl wardrobes but also tiles or traditional Korean house doors. We want to engrave in people's memories that tradition is not merely 'old,' but still beautiful and reusable. ARAMCHAE mother-of-pearl refurnishing furniture is the first step. We aim to establish it as a new model of cultural refurbishment that revives the memories of tradition with today's design."

IT Donga Reporter Kim Dong-jin (kdj@itdonga.com)

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