Shin Joo-yeon, winner of the third season of “Project Runway Korea,” won 100 million won ($92,000) and the chance to have her designs featured in the Korean edition of “Bazaar.”

The 26-year-old’s stellar performance is particularly notable given that she has a modest background compared with other contenders.

The Korean version of the American show, starring established Korean designers and hosted by model Lee Sora ended on April 16, but Shin’s quest for exploring new roads as a fashion designer has just started.

Unlike other contestants, many of who had studied at renowned fashion schools abroad such as Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, Shin studied in Korea at the Samsung Art and Design Institute.

Having once dreamed of becoming a musician, Shin decided to pursue fashion design when she was 19 due to economic difficulties her family faced after her father’s death.

“I just declared that I would become a fashion designer at the time,” she said. “I tried to find something I could make money out of, but later I fell for it like it was my destiny.”

While she was attending Samsung Art and Design Institute, she felt school work was not enough, so she decided to sell clothes at the high-end multi-shop 10 CORSO COMO.

“Fashion school students don’t try to sell clothes. But selling clothes is essential for fashion designers because you should know who you are selling your clothes to,” Shin said.

Shin advises to those aspiring to become fashion designers: “You need to have a concrete aim in order to pursue fashion design. If you settle where you are right now, you will see no progress in your career.”

Shin is open to the many possibilities ahead of her, but has already planed her next step ― studying overseas for fashion with the money she won from the show. 

By Lee Woo-young (wylee@heraldcorp.com)