Annual sales of 300 billion won, 3,500 employees, and 182 domestic branches. At the center of all these numbers is Representative Kang Yoon-sun, renowned as a legend in the beauty industry. Born into a poor neighborhood without any silver spoon, he started his career in beauty at the age of 17 and is now the CEO of one of the 'top 10 hair brands in the world.'
On the 28th, Representative Kang Yoon-sun appeared on the EBS·E Channel co-produced program 'Seo Jang-hoon's neighborhood millionaire,' sharing her life story. Having stood at the forefront of the beauty industry for over 40 years, she was the protagonist selected as one of the 'top 10 hair brands in the world' by the global beauty brand Wella in 2005.
At 22, Kang Yoon-sun founded her first store in Dongam-dong, Seoul. Nearly without funds, she had to secure money quickly and dedicated herself to working while cutting back on sleep to repay high interest. She recalled, 'My work was my lifeline. The situation where I couldn't not work became my driving force.'
While protecting her store, she also engaged in street promotions and created handwritten banners for each customer, rapidly expanding her business with her unique philosophy of 'Gungjeuktong' (When in need, a solution will be found). After holding scissors for ten years, she boldly transitioned from hairstylist to entrepreneur, beginning her journey as a business leader.
In 1993, she secretly took 200 million won from selling her house with her husband and led 19 employees to study in the United Kingdom. This event led to the establishment of the country's first systematic beauty education institution. Currently, numerous aspiring designers are being trained at the academy located in an eight-story building in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul.
She noted, 'I only spend money on education and store expansion,' demonstrating her character as a 'philosophical millionaire' who prioritizes nurturing talent and creating jobs over revenue. Seo Jang-hoon praised this sentiment, stating, 'Simply increasing job opportunities is a significant contribution to society.'
At the end of the broadcast, Kang Yoon-sun expressed, 'I hope there would still be hair salons even if I'm not around,' and revealed, 'I dream of a 500-year corporation,' which elicited laughter as Seo Jang-hoon playfully responded, 'I've heard of the 500-year Joseon dynasty, but?'
Meanwhile, 'Seo Jang-hoon's neighborhood millionaire' airs every Wednesday at 9:55 p.m. on EBS and E Channel. The next episode will feature Kim Jeong-bin, the representative of Superbin, who became a millionaire from garbage, sharing yet another success story.
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