The Story of Cory Moon: A Pioneer Bridging Tradition and Innovation in Urban Marketing
From a young age, Cory understood the profound impact spaces have on people. To her,
every corner of her home was not merely a physical space but a living entity imbued with stories. This
keen observation led her to pursue studies in Architecture and Housing Environment at Yonsei
University. There, she learned that architecture is not just about designing spaces, but about creating
tools that have the power to transform lives.
Upon graduation, Cory began her career at Guga Urban Architecture Design Studio.
Renowned for its unique fusion of traditional Korean Hanok style with modern Western architecture,
Guga offered Cory a challenging environment that blurred the lines between tradition and modernity.
She designed ‘Lagung,’ Korea’s first Hanok style hotel, rewriting the history of Korean architecture.
Lagung showcased the innovative combination of traditional Hanok aesthetics and modernist
practicality, revealing the potential of traditional architecture to the world.
Cory also participated in various urban regeneration projects, including the Bukchon Hanok
Renewal Project and the Cheong-gye-cheon Renewal Project in Seoul. In these endeavors, she not
only designed spaces but also redefined the relationship between cities and their inhabitants. The
spaces touched by her vision gained new vitality, gradually transforming the cityscape.
Her creativity did not stop there. Driven by an interest in installation art and exhibition design,
Cory co-founded an art business startup, ‘AB Corps,’ with her friends. They successfully led several
projects, such as the utilization of underground exhibition spaces at the Nambu Bus Terminal in Seoul,
exhibitions at Darling Gallery in Seongsu-dong, and Lotte Avenue Gallery. Through art, she redefined
the value of spaces, inspiring many.
These experiences led her to develop an interest in marketing and branding spaces. To gain
practical experience, Cory started her professional career at the Korean branch of the advertising firm
Saatchi & Saatchi. There, she handled marketing and branding tasks for various brands, including P&G,
HP Printers, Hansol Education, and OB Beer. During this time, she honed her skills in effectively
conveying brand stories, further enhancing her marketing expertise.
Cory’s capabilities flourished at Cheil Worldwide, Korea’s largest marketing and branding
agency, where she worked for eight years as an Account Executive. She led international branding and
marketing projects for Samsung Electronics, significantly contributing to the global dominance of
Samsung’s TV product line through the 'Samsung Bordeaux TV' project. Her creative strategies and
leadership shone in projects for diverse clients, including Samsung Life Insurance, Everland, CJ,
POSCO Construction, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Notably, the 'Life is Long' corporate ad
series for Samsung Life Insurance won the Grand Prize at the 2005 Korea Advertising Awards.
Recognizing the need for deeper knowledge in urban studies, Cory pursued a Master's and
Ph.D. in Urban Planning at Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Environmental Studies.
Balancing academic research with practical work, she conducted branding projects for Seoul and
Hwaseong city, and urban community activation projects in collaboration with Hyundai Construction.
Her research and projects played a crucial role in strengthening urban identities and fostering
community cohesion.
In 2022, upon receiving her Ph.D., Cory became intrigued by the new realm of the metaverse.
She co-founded the metaverse startup Wannaverse, aiming to expand the concept of urban marketing
into virtual spaces. She spearheaded innovative projects like Saudi Arabia’s Neom City and educational
metaverse projects for children, pushing the boundaries between reality and virtuality.
Currently, Cory serves as the COO of Liaison, dedicating her efforts to the completion of
‘PLU9,’ the world’s first hip-hop virtual platform. Her journey, bridging tradition and innovation, and
transcending both physical and virtual spaces, continues to unfold. Cory’s story is one of reinterpreting
spaces to suit the times, exploring new possibilities, and demonstrating the boundless potential that lies
at the intersection of tradition, modernity, reality, and virtuality.