Designhouse

What Designhouse does

Designhouse (디자인하우스) is a Seoul-headquartered, privately held Korean content media company founded in 1976 that publishes six magazine titles spanning design, lifestyle, luxury, weddings, and parenting — including 월간 디자인 (Monthly Design, Korea's longest-running design professional publication), 행복이 가득한 집 (Happy Home, Korea's most-subscribed lifestyle magazine), 럭셔리 (Luxury, a premium membership magazine), 마이웨딩 (My Wedding), 맘앤앙팡 (Mom & Enfant), and Style H (a JV with Hyundai Department Store). The company operates a multi-revenue model combining consumer print and digital subscriptions, premium print advertising (cover placements priced at KRW 20–40 million), four annual design exhibitions (Seoul Living Design Fair, Seoul Design Festival, Busan Design Festival, Magok Living Market), two gallery spaces, B2B corporate publishing and brand-event services, classes and travel experiences, and a curated commerce storefront (Story Shop).

The company's technology footprint centers on its own digital library (library.designhouse.co.kr) that archives decades of magazine content for e-magazine subscription and back-issue rental, an integrated subscription and e-commerce platform, and Naver Smart Store distribution, with Naver and Kakao SSO. Designhouse pursues expansion through strategic partnerships — Burda (Germany, 2000), Better Homes & Gardens licensing (1987), the 2005 acquisition of Woongjin Thinkbig's magazine business (the first acquisition in Korean magazine publishing), and the 2022 Designpress joint venture with Naver that operates the HeyPop (heypop.kr) curation platform. It is led by CEO Younghye Lee (이영혜), who received the Prime Minister's Commendation at the 33rd Magazine Day. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, but the diversified model — spanning B2C subscriptions, advertising, exhibitions, B2B corporate publishing, and commerce — supports a privately held, profitable mid-market media business.

Name

Designhouse

Legal name

주식회사 디자인하우스

Website

https://designhouse.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Designhouse is a Seoul-based, privately held Korean content media company founded in 1976 that publishes six design, lifestyle, luxury, and family magazine titles, operates four annual design exhibitions and two galleries, and runs a digital subscription library and curated commerce platform serving premium consumer and enterprise audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscription Revenue: Designhouse generates recurring revenue through print and digital (e-magazine) subscription plans for its publications (월간 디자인, 행복이 가득한 집, 럭셔리). Subscriptions are sold as monthly, annual (12-month), and gift plans, with automatic recurring payment options. Subscription revenue is the core revenue stream, supported by re-subscription discounts and premium gift-with-subscription packages.
2. Print and Digital Magazine Advertising: The company sells print advertising space across its magazine portfolio. Ad rates vary by publication, placement position, and page count. Specific ad rate tables are published for each magazine (디자인, 행복이 가득한 집, 럭셔리, 마이웨딩, 맘앤앙팡), with premium placements (cover, back cover, DPS) commanding the highest rates. Advertising is a major revenue driver alongside subscriptions.
3. Exhibition and Event Services: Designhouse organizes and operates large-scale design exhibitions including 서울리빙디자인페어, 서울디자인페스티벌, 부산디자인페스티벌, 마곡리빙마켓, as well as Gallery Moiso and Gallery Jiwooheon. Revenue is generated through exhibition participation fees, booth sales, sponsorship, and gallery rental.
4. Corporate Publishing and Brand Solutions: The company provides enterprise publishing services (기업출판) including brand books, brand journals, corporate magazines, and brochures. It also offers brand event planning and customer marketing services (브랜드 행사 기획), providing premium marketing to corporate clients through its magazine titles and member networks.
5. Digital Content and Class/Tour Services: Designhouse offers online and offline classes and travel experiences (CLASS & 여행), event management, and e-magazine single-copy rental. The '스토리샵' (Story Shop) section sells curated products recommended by journalists, generating additional transaction-based revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Designhouse is a Korean content media company that publishes a portfolio of premium print and digital magazines spanning design, home living, luxury lifestyle, wedding, and parenting categories. Beyond publishing, it operates four annual design/lifestyle exhibitions, two gallery spaces, a digital e-magazine library, corporate publishing and brand event services for B2B clients, and a curated Story Shop e-commerce platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 디자인프레스: Naver와 디자인하우스의 합작법인으로 '디자인, 공예, 아트' 분야 콘텐츠 기획 및 팝업 큐레이션 플랫폼 헤이팝 운영
• 월간 디자인
• 행복이 가득한 집
• 럭셔리
• 마이웨딩
• 맘앤앙팡
• 헤이팝
• 갤러리 모이소
• 갤러리 지우헌
• 서울리빙디자인페어
• 서울디자인페스티벌
• 마곡리빙마켓
• 부산디자인페스티벌

Products and services

• 월간 디자인 (Monthly Design)
• 행복이 가득한 집 (Happy Home)
• 럭셔리 (Luxury)
• 마이웨딩 (My Wedding)
• 맘앤앙뽀 (Mom & Enfant)
• Style H
• Designhouse E-Magazine Digital Library Online digital library platform (library.designhouse.co.kr) providing e-book versions of Design, 행복이 가득한 집, and 럭셔리 magazines with archive dating back to their founding years. Supports back-issue rentals, monthly new-issue auto-payment subscriptions, and cumulative access passes. Industry-first digital magazine launched with 럭셔리 in 2010, later expanded across all publications.
• Seoul Living Design Fair (서울리빙디자인페어) Large-scale annual home living and lifestyle exhibition (started 1994) held at COEX. Major platform for brand exhibitors, designers, and B2B brand visibility. Revenue generated through exhibition participation fees, booth sales, and sponsorship.
• Seoul Design Festival (서울디자인페스티벌) Annual design professional exhibition (started 2002) held at COEX Hall A. Drives B2B engagement with exhibitors, designers, and brand partners while serving as audience acquisition for Designhouse magazine titles.
• Busan Design Festival (부산디자인페스티벌) Regional design exhibition (started 2021) held at BEXCO, expanding Designhouse's exhibition platform to Busan. Drives brand visibility and B2B partnerships in the Busan region.
• Magok Living Market (마곡리빙마켓) Lifestyle curation market held at COEX Magok Convention Center, combining exhibition elements with curated consumer market experiences.
• Corporate Publishing and Brand Solutions B2B enterprise publishing services including brand books, brand journals, corporate magazines, and brochures. Also provides brand event planning (브랜드 행사 기획) and customer marketing services, leveraging Designhouse's media titles and member networks to deliver premium marketing solutions to corporate clients.
• Classes & Tours (클래스 & 여행) Online and offline educational classes (architectural tours, design history courses, cooking, etc.) and travel experiences offered as branded educational content. 700+ classes and events organized since 2008 under 행복이 가득한 교실 series. Targets readers seeking deeper engagement with design and lifestyle topics.
• Story Shop (스토리샵) Curated e-commerce section on the Designhouse e-commerce platform (smartstore.naver.com/designhouseshop) selling products recommended by journalists. Generates transaction-based revenue from curated premium goods.
• Gallery Moiso (갤러리 모이소) Design-specialized gallery space located within Designhouse's Jangchung-dong headquarters building (completed 2000, designed by architect Seung-sang). Available for curated exhibitions and gallery rental, providing a physical channel for art and design content beyond magazine publishing.
• Gallery Jiwooheon (갤러리 지우헌) Traditional Korean exhibition space located in Bukchon Hanok Village. Selected as a 2016 Seoul Excellent Traditional Korean House by Seoul Metropolitan Government. Operated as a curated gallery for exhibitions and rental.
• HeyPop (헤이팝) Popup curation platform (launched 2022) operated by Designpress, a joint corporation between Designhouse and Naver. Showcases contemporary brands, projects, creators, and design spots; serves as a cultural content platform for younger audiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 럭셔리 readers show 90% ad engagement rate (interest in advertisements beyond editorial content)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Naver (네이버)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Designhouse and Naver established Designpress (디자인프레스), a joint corporation that operates the Naver Design topic section (네이버디자인), produces design/art/craft content, and launched HeyPop (heypop.kr) in 2022 — a popup curation platform promoting contemporary brands, projects, and creators.
• Woongjin Thinkbig (웅진 씽크빅)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Designhouse acquired the magazine business division of Woongjin Thinkbig in 2005 — the first acquisition in the Korean magazine industry — significantly expanding its media portfolio and market leadership position.
• Hyundai Department Store (현대백화점)strategicGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2005Style H (스타일 H) was launched in 2005 as a membership magazine and VIP marketing medium in partnership with Hyundai Department Store, targeting core customers and opinion leaders. It exemplifies effective VIP marketing media co-creation.
• Burda (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000In 2000, Designhouse formed Korea's first foreign joint venture with German media giant Burda, securing the foundation for global business development. This joint venture enabled international knowledge transfer and global brand exposure.
• Better Homes & Gardens (USA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1987When founding 행복이 가득한 집 in 1987, Designhouse was the first in Korea to license content from Better Homes & Gardens (US), legally introducing international home living editorial content to Korean readers.
• Seoul Metropolitan Government / Various SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDesignhouse's major exhibitions (Seoul Living Design Fair, Seoul Design Festival, Busan Design Festival, Magok Living Market) involve partnerships with Seoul Metropolitan Government, corporate sponsors, and design brands for event execution and brand promotion.
• NICE Credit Rating Information (NICE 신용평가정보)minorOthersNICE 신용평가정보 is used for identity verification (real-name confirmation) and authentication services (I-pin, mobile phone verification) for Designhouse's online membership registration and subscription services.
• CJ Logistics / Various Logistics Partners (CJ대한통운, 로젠택배, etc.)minorOthersDesignhouse outsources magazine and merchandise delivery to CJ대한통운, 로젠택배, and other logistics partners for subscription deliveries, overseas shipping, and event prize shipments.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Condé Nast: Global premium lifestyle publisher of Architectural Digest, Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, and Wired. Direct competitor to Designhouse in design and luxury verticals (Architectural Digest vs. 월간 디자인; Vogue Korea vs. 럭셔리). Closest competitor in premium design/lifestyle magazine publishing globally.
• Dotdash Meredith (People Inc.): US media company and parent of Better Homes & Gardens—the international partner Designhouse licensed from to launch 행복이 가득한 집 in 1987. Operates a comparable diversified lifestyle media model (Better Homes & Gardens, People, InStyle, Allrecipes) with e-commerce, licensing, and B2B services.
• Hearst Communications: US media conglomerate publishing Elle Decor, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, and others across multiple lifestyle verticals. Directly competes with Designhouse in interior design/home (Elle Decor vs. 행복이 가득한 집) and operates a similar multi-title diversified media model with B2B and licensing revenue.
• Hubert Burda Media (Burda): German media conglomerate and Designhouse's JV partner since 2000. Burda publishes multi-title lifestyle, design, and fashion magazines (Bunte, Focus, InStyle) across Europe under a similar multi-title diversified media model with print, digital, and licensing revenue streams.

Broad incumbents

• Bonnier Group: Swedish family-owned media company with portfolios in business press, lifestyle, and trade publications across Nordic and European markets. Comparable multi-niche diversified media strategy and family/founder-led ownership model similar to Designhouse.
• Future plc: UK-based specialty media company operating 250+ titles across technology, gaming, lifestyle, and design (including Wallpaper*, Livingetc). Operates a similar multi-title diversified media-plus-e-commerce model with strong digital subscription monetization—a useful public proxy for Designhouse's digital transformation trajectory.
• Axel Springer: German media company operating Business Insider, Bild, Welt, and various lifestyle and digital brands. Comparable diversified media-plus-direct-sales-and-events business model with strong German market position.
• Lagardère (Hachette): French media group historically publishing Elle, Paris Match, and other lifestyle titles globally with international licensing partnerships. Operates a comparable multi-title premium lifestyle media model similar to Designhouse's Burda JV approach.

Regional players

• Dong-A Ilbo: Korean media conglomerate operating newspapers, magazines (including Monthly Chosun), and digital platforms. Comparable Korean media group with similar diversified print-digital-event business model and a competitor for advertising spend in Korea.
• JoongAng Media Network: Korean media conglomerate (JoongAng Ilbo) operating newspapers, magazines, broadcast, and events. Comparable Korean media operating model with diversified revenue streams; competitor for Korean B2B advertising budgets and consumer attention.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@luxuryeditors
• Facebookfacebook.com/monthlydesign
• Instagraminstagram.com/dh_jaejaeso
• Xx.com/designhousekr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Designhouse