Seoul-based designer Juntae Kim has teamed up with Asics on the Gel-Kinetic sneaker model as part of his spring/summer 2027 collection.
For this tie-up, Kim brings the brand’s signature flower motif to the Asics Gel-Kinetic FR in a way that introduces a new form of hybrid footwear infused with the Korean designer’s romantic yet punk-inspired aesthetic.
More specifically, the brand’s signature flower motif is translated into detachable hardware details, allowing for multiple styling possibilities within a single pair of shoes. Designed to shift between the elegance of a romantic dress shoe and the attitude of a street sneaker, Asics noted that the piece proposes a sustainable and flexible approach to design.
The new collab was revealed at the same time as the designer’s spring/summer 2027 collection, dubbed “Korean Sabotage.”
According to Kim, the theme is not about respectfully preserving Korean aesthetics, but about dismantling, disrupting, and wearing them again. “At a time when Hallyu is consumed globally as a cultural code, Juntae Kim does not package Koreanness into a polished image,” the company noted in a statement. “Instead, the brand discovers a new possibility for Korean punk through something worn, distorted, and rebellious.”
The Juntae Kim x Asics Gel-Kinetic FR sneaker.
Courtesy of Juntae Kim
This new sneaker collaboration comes at the same time that Asics SportStyle teamed up again with Chinese experimental footwear brand Empty Behavior on the new Hypersync shoe.
This new low-profile sneaker reimagines the streamlined wrestling silhouette with elements of the dance shoe. Further drawing from classical dance skirts and ruff collars, the design team merges the reimagined construction and pleating with the shoe’s functional silhouette—resulting in a concept sneaker that balances performance with artistic expression, Asics noted.
The elements from dance skirts are subtly integrated into the tongue design, where soft textile textures contrast with the shoe’s rugged, wrestling-inspired structure. The lateral Asics Stripes feature pleats inspired by classical dance attire, secured by central double-stitching and fanning out into a layered look. The tongue features the shirring technique, with satin evoking the elegance of classical dancewear, while a built-in elastic structure enhances fit and comfort.
The news also comes just weeks after the Japanese company disclosed that its board of directors voted to spin off the nearly 80-year-old Onitsuka Tiger brand into OT Group Corp., a new wholly owned subsidiary of Asics Corp., through an absorption-type company split, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
The Juntae Kim x Asics Gel-Kinetic FR sneaker is slated to be released later this year.
The Juntae Kim x Asics Gel-Kinetic FR sneaker.
Courtesy of Juntae Kim
