Canadian-born Chad Burton is always in the thick of things at Seoul. This model/photographer/stylist shows a deep love for fashion through his blog, The XOXO Kids. Whether in the streets, at the club, or on the runway, he’s always got his finger on the trigger if you’re XOXO-worthy that is.
Hey Chad. How are you?
I’m blogging, answering emails, playing scrabble with my roommate, Skyping with a friend in London, scanning in magazine articles, organizing in my head what I need to sell before moving to London this spring…and eating a Moroccan sandwich. I’m a nut-job.
When and how did The XOXO Kids start?
It started in June 2008. I was inspired by the street fashion I was seeing in Seoul not long after moving here and by a few of the underground electro parties that were happening at the time.
You’re basically into fashion, modeling, music, and nightlife. Can you tell us more about how you started in those? Which came first?
I’ve always been into music and fashion but didn’t get a chance to see many live acts or any fashion outside of the malls in the small Canadian towns and cities I grew up in.The nightlife in Seoul is ridiculous, this city is seriously 24/7, so I fell into that scene not long after arriving here. The modeling thing just came by chance after getting asked on the street to model for an online shop. It’s pretty amazing to live in a city with so much of all of this going on all the time.
What makes Korea a party?
Oh man, it’s wild. People pre-party with Soju over Korean style BBQ, head to the clubs around midnight and then hit up after party clubs followed by after after party clubs to keep you going all night and sleeping all day until you never see the light of day. It can be a vicious but fun cycle.
What were some of your favorite moments while shooting a party/gig?
Watching my friend Jade get pulled up onstage and ‘daggered’ at the Major Lazer show.
You mentioned reforming is your hobby. If there was anything you wanna change in the party scene in Korea, what would be it?
The smoking. Get it out! But, unfortunately, that will never happen in my lifetime in Korea. Smoking is just so ingrained in the culture.
In an interview with Nylon, you said you wanna publish a magazine. What will we see in the mag and are you working on it already?
That may or may not be a pipe dream. It won’t be happening any time soon but I’m always storing away little thoughts here and there for possible future use.
If we’re in Korea and we wanna see trendy people, what 5 spots can you suggest we’d go to?
Myeongdong shopping area, Hongdae University and Club district, a street called Garosugil in Sinsa-dong, Rodeo in Apgujeon, and definitely come to the Bling Night Flea Market at Platoon Kusthalle the first Saturday of every month.
Introduction by Viva Gonzalez
Interview by Reena Mesias
Photos via thexoxokids
For the full story, grab a copy of STATUS May 2011 issue.
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