Models and talents Bae Doo Na, Balming Tiger, Britney Kim, Chloe Oh, Code Kunst, Guemone Gim, Gyo, Hyung Joon, Jungle, New Jeans, Soo Joo Park, Soo Yeon, Yoon Young Bae capture the vibrancy of Seoul, South Korea in ‘Tomorrowland’.

Photographer Cho Giseok [IG] captures this old world v. 21st century fashion story styled by Kate Phelan./ Hair by Gabe Sin; makeup by Oh Seong Seok

I’ve told this story before in the pages of AOC, but images like these prompt my deeply-personal reflection of my first flight into Seoul and my equally-personal attachment to the people of South Korea.

Over 25 years ago now, the United first class cabin was quite empty in the night flight from Hong Kong to Seoul.

Not knowing what to expect — but also bombarded for years with the idea that South Korea was a third-world country — I kept looking on the horizon for a glimpse of the city. The chief flight attendant, who called me Queen Victoria, encouraged me to move around the cabin, even though we had begun our descent.

I want to say that one could enter the cockpit in those days with an invite and I was standing with the chief in the cockpit doorway — absolutely yes! — because suddenly the lights of Seoul were before me on the horizon, leaving me astonished.

In that moment — as we dropped down further and lined up with the airport runway [still high up but it was before me at 5-8,000 feet] I clearly understood that we Americans had no idea of the terrain ahead of us in a competitive global marketplace.

Everywhere I looked, there were tall buildings with glittering lights. Having to sit down then and buckle up, I had seen an entirely different South Korea lining up for my visit — very different from the one I had heard about in America.

With my face glued to the window, I met my new friend country with respect and admiration for what we now call the global marketplace.

I will never forget that moment of seeing Seoul for the first time. She was breathtaking and FORMIDABLE. And we were quite a team! ~ Anne