On a wave of innovation

An event floor in Amsterdam buzzes with discussion around thought-provoking installations. In its first European event, Hyundai’s circular economy platform, Re:Style, provokes discussion around the nature of consumerism by refashioning old car parts into items of clothing and accessories. Workshops and art installations bolster this commentary on the importance of a circular economy and what that means in terms of securing a more vibrant planet in the future.

Fashion designer Jeremy Scott has kept many a brand in the spotlight with his blend of tongue-in-cheek humor and designs inspired by pop culture. Having reinterpreted iconic logos like Barbie, Coca-Cola, and Looney Tunes, Scott’s inspiration from consumer culture perfectly placed him to join Hyundai’s Re:Style—where his collection, made from recycled car parts, lends a new perspective on sustainable fashion and the nature of consumerism.

Seoul’s Lotte World Tower is the perfect architectural example of South Korea’s innovative spirit. Completed in 2017, its design isn’t just a technological marvel, its creation is a benchmark of near-self-sustaining mega construction, as hidden technologies help not to be a drain on the city’s power supply. At over 1,800 feet (555 meters) high, the skyscraper is now the tallest building in the Korea Peninsula, its sleek vertical form making it stand out from Seoul’s mountainous surroundings.

Housing an art gallery, cafés, a six-star hotel, shopping complex, office space, and a glass-floored skywalk, Lotte World Tower’s contemporary interior is inspired by traditional Korean artforms like ceramics and calligraphy. Beneath the glitz though, in the subterranean depths of the building’s 123 floors, hydrothermal and geothermal energy systems create renewable power that reduces Lotte’s reliance on the national grid by nearly 40 percent.

The Hongcheon Forest in South Korea is particularly vulnerable to seasonal wildfires that thin out tree density and reduce biodiversity. To address this, Hyundai works with partners to replant a variety of tree species using specialized drones. Transported and charged using IONIQ vehicles and their vehicle-to-load technology, the drones locate damaged forest areas and drop “bombs” full of nutrient rich soil and the seeds of fire-resistant ash trees, endangered Korean firs, and biodiversity-boosting black locust trees. “The IONIQ Forest project goes beyond tree planting,” says Jae-yun Shin of Hyundai’s Sustainability Management Team, “it is a comprehensive initiative that contributes to the well-being of our planet and lays the foundation for a flourishing environment.”

Preparing an IONIQ drone for take-off, Hyung-soo Kim (left) and Edward Sim (right) are CEOs of the two partners, Tree Planet and Guru E&T respectively, working with Hyundai to replant trees in response to the climate crisis. “This is an important agenda assigned to humanity, and we take part in this assignment by reforesting damaged areas,” says Sim. “These drones enable us to plant in manpower-restricted areas, while Vehicle-to-Load technology helps us provide electricity for the drones and batteries in places where electricity is hard to be obtained. We hope our project may inspire others to come up with better methods or ideas of reforestation technologies through EV and drones.”

Research Engineer Seungjun Lee straps into the latest innovation at the Hyundai Motor Group Robotics Lab. Designed to help give mobility and independence back to those less able to walk, the X-ble MEX is an exoskeleton significantly slimmer, lighter, and more seamless than other powered harnesses. Its range of movement is such that it grants the ability to stand, walk, and even climb stairs during the rehabilitation process.

“We started our research hoping to improve the quality of life for those with impaired mobility,” says Hyundai Robotics Lab Vice President Dong-jin Hyun, on the purpose of the mechanized harness. “Patients with paraplegia often suffer from secondary complications caused by lying in bed for a long time. We hope the X-ble MEX will improve their lives, and eventually also become a universal means of transportation for the mobility-impaired.”

Researcher Sung-Yeon Hwang demonstrates the tensile strength of the bioplastic he and his team have developed. In response to the ongoing plastic pollution problem, Hwang and team at the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology created a new material that degrades in six months—as opposed to the centuries it takes for traditional plastic to break down.

Bioplastics made from corn, rice or sugarcane have had difficulties as viable alternatives to plastic bags, due to their fragility. But by adding stiffening elements to the mix, pulled from wood and crab shells, Sung-Yeon Hwang's team’s bioplastic is now even stronger than its conventional peer—with the same tensile strength as the nylon that’s used in parachutes and safety belts.

While a farm might be the last thing that you’d expect to encounter during a morning commute though Seoul’s metro system, that’s exactly what you’ll meet in Sangdo Station. Founded by tech start-up Farm8, Metro Farm uses hydroponics to grow around 66 pounds (30 kilograms) of edible plants daily, which are all used in smoothies and salad bowls in the café next door.

Under the purplish-pink glow of LED lights and tended by automated irrigation systems, around 30 varieties of leafy greens, herbs, and flowers grow stacked atop one another. Interest in urban farming has been on the rise in Asia, as innovators want to reduce carbon emissions and feed ever-denser city populations. Serving as a serene underground landscape and a viable source of food, Metro Farm is a great promotional concept for Farm8, who offer vertical farms to corporations looking to make their little spaces a little greener.

Discover more Korean innovations here.