• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.60 no.8
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• pp.151-167
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• 2010

This research is to analyze ethics in fashion design for more valuable and sustainable human life against the increasing alienation of the human being, the global ecological crisis resulted from contemporary consumption society. I expect that it can be helpful to plan ethical fashion design practice more effectively. For this, the documentary study and practical case study have been executed. The results are as follows. The ethics in design can be defined as the responsibility to reform the social, environmental problem of consumptive design, to sustain together without human alienation, environment disruption and to do social good for total human being ultimately. The ethical design practice means to suggest solutions to problems of human rights and environment and to act willingly. Based on this, ethical fashion design appeared as responsible design solution which has two directions. One is the fashion design for coexistence and sharing, including the design for all which considers even underprivileged minority, the design to promote public issues as well as to donate some profits. The other is the eco fashion design for sustainable environment, including eco-friendly design which is reductive and slow in whole design process, the design to inform the seriousness of environmental crisis as well as to donate some profits. The last one of the most important ethical responsibility as fashion designer is to abide by vocational ethics, that is, the prohibition of design piracy.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.127-164
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• 2014

This essay examines the motivations, goals, and assumptions of those who are participating in the appropriate technology movement in contemporary South Korea. In addition to analyzing books, articles, presentation materials, and media reports written by or about the "appropriate technologists," I have interviewed a few of them to hear their thoughts on appropriate technologies as well as inappropriate technologies. They choose to work on appropriate technology out of their good will for people in need, their Christian faith, and their pride in Korea's rapid and successful development. As a result, the appropriate technology movement in Korea does not engage in a critical evaluation of current sociotechnical systems, but instead takes an ethical and paternalistic stance in accepting and improving the given situation. Its apolitical character is effective in drawing a large number of participants, but it also limits their imagination and the movement's potential influence. Moreover, the movement's focus on "the other 90%" leads the participants to frame appropriate technology as something for "them" or "locals" rather than as something for "all of us." This essay concludes by suggesting that the appropriate technology movement in Korea should expand its scope from an ethical pursuit of technology to a political engagement with technology.