The progresses in the Korean design promotion strategy since the 1950s have been studied. Korean design strategy was somewhat limited in the imitator who copied advanced nations strategies at the beginning. Their strategies changed to adopter and/or modifier in conjunction with the Korean economic development. It has pursued pioneer strategies since 2000. This study has identified the changing environment of design, the nature of design promotion strategy, the historical background and current states of world design promotion. Finally, it has suggested four challenges for transforming Korea into the world class design nation: Formulation of law for cultivating the design industry; enhancing the self-survival power of Korea Institute of Design Promotion(KIDP), the establishment of the Korea Design Promotion Foundation, upgrading the Korea Federation of Design Associations(KFDA).