Your name
Juno Seunghui Joo
Place of birth
South Korea
Place where you live now
London, United Kingdom
3 words to describe you
A Korean Photographer
Why do you take pictures?
I take pictures to express things I feel are best shown visually and to open up conversations about themes we all might encounter at different points in life. I feel more comfortable communicating through images than words, and I believe photography is one of the most powerful forms of expression. It invites people to look beyond the image itself, almost like a visual journal or a kind of poetry.
Where do you get your inspiration?
All kinds of art that I encounter in life. Amongst them, I would say mostly from films. To me, watching films is not only entertaining myself, but also studying about photography throughout cinematography with its lighting, colouring, tone and manner, the way of processing the story through visualisation. It is a huge inspiration. I also draw heavily from my Korean heritage, particularly folk beliefs, folklore objects, and other cultural elements. These traditions and stories deeply influence my work, helping me explore themes of identity, belief, and the intersection of culture and modern life.
Who are your influences?
My greatest influences are the people I love — myself, family, friends, and lovers. Each of them has shaped the way I see the world, and they inspire me to capture moments that reflect the complexity and depth of human connections.
What determines the subject matter you choose?
I think that human beings need each other to live meaningful lives. For me, it’s important to explore how we connect with one another and understand the issues surrounding humanity - human interaction and relationships. My work spans a range of topics, from universal human struggles to highly personal matters. I believe that through a person’s life, we can reveal the major, core challenges that we all face.
What impact would you like your art to have?
I have such great memories from working on my project “What a death made us do”, particularly the experience of sharing our sadness and tears with the people around me at that time. Due to the weight of the theme, I was initially afraid to bring up the conversation, but through showing my work and sharing my thoughts, the discussion naturally opened up. Even though it wasn’t easy for any of us to talk about, the sincerity of the exchange made it a meaningful and valuable experience — one I will never forget. Moreover, it emphasised the importance of human connection. Like this experience, I hope my work can lead to conversations that have a lasting impact on our lives.
What artwork do you never get bored with?
A film called Dogtooth by Yorgos Lanthimos.
Is there anything you want to add?
Have a good day all. :)

Make me your country
Project statement

This project discusses the challenges faced by couples in international romantic relationships, reflecting on how cultural differences impact communication. As a Korean studying in London, I met my Spanish partner without fully realising our cultural disparities.
Over time, we encountered various challenges like communication issues and cultural differences. Despite transcending some differences, we still face gaps in understanding. Our ongoing journey highlights the complexity of bridging cultural gaps. While complete elimination of these disparities may be difficult, our efforts to reduce intercultural distance are vital. In today's multicultural world, we're prompted to consider how different we truly are at our core.
The commencement of each day involves the salutation “좋은 아침 (Good morning)” from my end, reciprocated by my partner with the Spanish equivalent, "Buenos días." Approximately one month into our dating, a tender expression of affection in the form of “사랑해(I love you)” was conveyed in my native Korean language. This sentiment was met with reciprocation in Spanish, "Te adoro," and over subsequent weeks, the linguistic mode of affection transitioned to "Te quiero." The attainment of stability in our relationship culminated in the unequivocal expression of love, "Te amo." This, too, was reciprocated with the enduring phrase, "사랑해."
Notwithstanding the apparent transcendence of linguistic and cultural dissimilarities in our relationship, an array of gaps persists. The attaining of mutual comprehension remains an ongoing process, with acceptance contingent upon the resolution of myriad trials and tribulations. Communication transpires through a third language, and cohabitation constitutes a fundamental aspect of our relational framework. As the primary narrative voice is myself, my Korean heritage consistently manifests through visual representation, elucidating the intricacies of communication with my partner. While the narrative may ostensibly reflect the idiosyncrasies of a specific couple, its contextual relevance extends beyond singularity, resonating within the broader milieu of contemporary international social landscapes.

juno seunghui joo
@junojou