Hello, I am Yeoleum, an animation director and storyteller.
This book catches me at a beginning - the moment I am "professionalising," while still as curious as when I started.
My work reflects who I am, so these stories are my real introduction.
I love the natural world and history, and I enjoy finding ways to make history and science easy to see and understand.
But what moves me most is simpler: I make my work as a gift, something to enchant people and bring them a moment of pure joy.
To Readers,
Dong dong and I , 3D Modeled in Blender
CHAPTER 1 : Aesthetic Foundation
Undergrad study in Theater and Film Design
Teaching Experience
The Isle of Trash
Beginning of Everything
Conscious “I”
Bridging Handcraft and CG
CHAPTER 2 : Expanding Horizons
working as Story Designer
as stop-motion Artist
Second Home : Ohio State University
Museum of 6th Extinction
The architecture itself is a part of the narrative
Interactive Museum Diorama
Presto Agitato ... until we all vanished
Characterizing the Music Score
Ocean Cemetery
An Immersive Experience of the Ocean Deep
Layers In History
Scientific Features into my Artistic Interpretation
Collaborating with AI tools in 3D production
Internship at Motion Graphic Studio
Project Circle: Library
Seoul Station
MFA Thesis
The Journey
2023
2017
2021
2024
2025
2026
2027
1
My teenage peak started the moment I crushed the ego of the middle school Queen Bee. She loved using the "we’re friends" line while subtly treating me like her servant. She was taking private art lessons. I was passionate about art as well, but my family couldn't afford it.
One day, I walked right into the art school president’s office and introduced myself. To my surprise, the president kindly offered to teach me for free for few months. That single opportunity changed everything. Soon after, I won the Grand Prize—the Seoul Mayor’s Award—in a national high school art competition, instantly earning the title of the top art student in school.
She tried to bully me out of jealousy, but my revenge was already complete, as I was accepted into one of Korea’s most prestigious universities beating 1-in-86 odds —the very title her parents spent fortunes pushing her to achieve. I no longer hid my genuine confidence in my natural talent.
My Teenage Peak
University study
My first dream was becoming a theme park designer. I used to draw a map of amusement parks large enough to cover a wall, depicting the people enjoying the space and their stories. Eventually after graduating high school, the path I chose was Theater and Film Design at Chung-Ang University.
I learned practical skills like working on theater productions and live-action filmmaking. One of my professors was actually the production designer for the famous Korean movie Parasite!
During this time, I met Professor Wooksang, who became my true mentor in life. I wanted to learn from him, so I decided to minor in Game Interactive Media to study CG under his guidance. There, I learned tools like Maya and Unreal Engine—discovering how to model, rig, animate, and build and edit cinematic sets.
Chapter 1 : Aesthetic Foundation
2013-2016
2017-2022
Music Club
I love heavy metal, so I joined a band. Back then, I made album covers and music videos for my friends who wrote music.
Along the way, I met Sangmo, who became my soulmate composer!
He has written original music for five of my animations! Our connection is pretty much like Christopher Nolan and Hans Zimmer!
Whenever I share an abstract idea for an animation scene, he instantly gets it and creates the perfect music.
While in college, I worked part-time as instructor at a very large Art Academy.
I taught students of all ages:
Froebel Gifts classes for little kids aged 4 to 8, art foundation classes for teenagers, and individual test prep for students getting ready for university.
I quickly realized how much children love rewards. I often submitted their drawings to art contests, and helped them to win the prizes. Their parents loved this so much that I quickly became one of the most popular teachers at the Academy!
Here’s a little secret... I was 22 back then which could be seen too young to teach, so the boss actually lied to the parents and told them I was 27!
Although I wasn't an animation major in university, I had a strong feeling that I had the talent to make animations. Building miniatures and sets for stage design naturally gave me all the skills I needed to build stop-motion sets.
One day at the Art Academy, I was chatting with the students about the topic, "What if you could hear Garbage?"
Right at that moment, it felt like my guardian angel dropped an idea in my head. That was the spark for the defining masterpiece of my life—the project that opened the door to my career.
Teaching Experience
Beginning of Everything
2017-2021
2017-2021
2020
1
My first job after graduation was as a Story Designer at CEREELS in Seoul, a narrative animation studio.
Although I initially pursued animation production, my manager recognized my original stories and keen observations of the world, and offered me a narrative development role.
I worked on developing new episodes for different animation series on a weekly basis. When creating new characters, I was often influenced by real people around me, books, films, and interviews, which resulted in more genuine and compelling characters.
I also wanted to use my practical animation skills, so I worked full-time at a stop-motion studio called MESE.
I created stop-motion puppets, handcrafted miniature furniture and environmental props, including trees and botanical assets and architectural elements.
I assisted set dressing as well.
At the same time, I wanted to expand my horizons. The foreign artists I met at international film festivals often gave me great insights, which made me crave more international experience.
My friends would often tell me, 'You belong at places like Disney or Pixar. You need to go further out into the world.'
Then I happened to read Paulo Coelho’s novel The Alchemist. A single page from that book gave me the courage to make a bold decision.
Story Designer
Stop-motion Artist
Another Message
2021 .11 - 2022.04
2023.02 - 2023.04
2023
Chapter 2
— Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist, p. 21
My life mentors, Professor Wooksang and Professor Kyoung, guided me to The Ohio State University. To this day, it remains one of the best choices I have ever made in my life!!!
I was fortunate enough to be selected as a Fellow, receiving a full scholarship for my first year, followed by a Research Assistant position at school during my second and third years. This provided the ideal environment to focus entirely on my work and research without worrying about financial stability.
Experiencing a wide range of advanced technical and creative techniques completely expanded my scope, bringing me one step closer to my dream stage.
Before heading to the U.S., I traveled around the world. According to my Korean Astrology, I have a natural spirit for adventure!!!
This journey deepened my love for the Earth and nature. Experiencing Mother Nature firsthand filled me with admiration.
This experience must have influenced how I admire nature and eventually shaped my graduate research.
Second Home
2024 - current
Travel around the world
Expanding Horizons
Always in progress!
10 fun facts about me!
I'm great at dynamic posing for photos. I just need a better photographer.
I love drawing smiley faces on my food.
I enjoy outdoor sketching.
I love going to karaoke with friends, or turning the music at maximum volume at home and singing along.
If I weren't doing animation, I'd be an actress or an archaeologist. Because I have a keen observation of the world.
I'm over 90% ENFP :D
I love gift-giving!
I believe in my guardian angel. Whenever I feel lost, I get little signs on what to do, often through someone's voice.
I love goofy stuff—memes, silly items, and everyday humor!
I collect motivational quotes,
and here’s my current favorite:
Smiley faces on my food
Outdoor sketchings
Dynamic poses