Top South Korean fashion designer Andre Kim has passed away at the age of 75. The popular style icon died at the Seoul National University hospital on Thursday (12Aug10) after battling pneumonia and colon cancer.

The eccentric designer had created outfits for South Korea's leading stars, including Shim Jee Ho, Kim Min Jung and Hawaiian favorite, Jung Joon-ho.

He was hailed as his homeland's ambassador for fashion and designed shows for the Olympic Games in Seoul and Beijing. Famed for his flowing white outfits and eccentric head make-up, he was South Korea's first male fashion designer and was honored with the country's Presidential Culture and Art Medal in 1977.

He never married, but is survived by his adopted son. (MJ/WNWA/ZN)

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