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| yna@yna.co.kr 2026-06-16 16:08:08
SEOUL, June 16 (Yonhap) -- "My ultimate goal is to build a distribution hub for the K-beauty industry that connects not only the United States but also Canada and Latin America."
Park Hyung-kwon, chairman of U.S.-based beauty distributor Beauty Master, laid out his vision in a recent interview with Yonhap News Agency during a visit to South Korea aimed at expanding his distribution network through meetings on new product launches.
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Park, 71, has built a K-beauty distribution empire over the past two decades. After moving to the United States in 2000 at the age of 45, he entered the beauty distribution business in 2002 and grew the company into a major enterprise with 15 stores and 700 employees.
Its flagship Atlanta store spans 6,611 square meters and carries around 250,000 hair and beauty products.
The roots of Park's American dream trace back to his middle school years, when a relative returning from the United States told him truck drivers there could earn US$10,000 a month.
The dream he had nurtured since his teens did not become reality until three decades later. But life in the United States proved far more difficult than he had imagined.
"I came to America full of confidence, but once I arrived, I struggled because I couldn't speak the language," Park said. "The only business I thought I could do was one serving Korean people, so I started a food delivery service despite having no experience."
The business folded after just eight months.
Searching for a new opportunity, Park turned his attention to the beauty supply sector.
"About 70 to 80 percent of the market was dominated by Koreans. I figured I wouldn't starve if I entered the business," he recalled.
Starting with a wig shop in 2002, Park posted monthly sales of around 20 million won (US$14,600) in his first month. Within two years, monthly sales had surged to 200 million won, doubling again to 400 million won the following year.
Behind the rapid growth was a decade of strict self-discipline.
"I used to smoke heavily and drink a lot, but I quit both completely," he said. "For 10 years, I went nowhere except home and the store."
He said he never arrived late and devoted himself entirely to the business, adding that he felt he had deprived his family of freedom during those years.
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when businesses around the world shut down, Park persevered. He persuaded local authorities that beauty supply stores provided essential products and should remain open.
The experience strengthened his commitment to giving back.
"I managed to secure 2 million face masks when others couldn't and donated them to people in need," he said.
That spirit of sharing led him to establish the Beauty Master Beautiful Scholarship Foundation (BMBS) in 2019 with profits accumulated over two decades.
Co-founded with Park Nam-kwon, head of Chapel Beauty, and former Georgia state lawmaker Mike Glanton, the foundation annually selects 150 high school seniors in Georgia and Florida to receive scholarships.
Last year, the foundation awarded a total of $150,000 in scholarships.
"It's not just financial support," Park said. "It's about giving students hope and encouragement."
His community activities extend beyond education.
Park has served as chairman of the Korean Crime Prevention Committee in Georgia, helping strengthen trust between the Korean community and local police.
He also headed the Atlanta chapter of the World Federation of Overseas Korean Traders Associations (World-OKTA), linking Korean businesses with overseas Korean entrepreneurs.
In recognition of his contributions, he received the 25th Georgia Minority Business Awards in 2023.
As competition intensified, Park adopted a strategy of scale, opening stores roughly 10 times larger than conventional outlets.
Although logistics and operating costs posed major challenges, the model eventually stabilized and sparked a trend toward larger beauty supply stores across North America.
The K-beauty boom that emerged around three years ago marked another turning point for his business. A video by a major influencer featuring one of his stores went viral last year, significantly boosting the company's profile.
Its reputation grew further after being featured in a Lunar New Year special travel documentary on KBS 1TV, "Kim Young-chul's Journey of Overseas Koreans," in February.
Park is also preparing for the age of artificial intelligence.
"If you don't make use of AI, you'll barely scrape by," he said, describing AI as the most powerful tool for competing against larger rivals.
He attributes much of his success to a people-centered management philosophy.
Beauty Master pays salaries comparable to those of executives at major U.S. corporations, especially to managers.
"If there's profit, you have to share it," he said. "If I try to keep everything for myself, the organization will collapse."
His family-run management structure has also taken root, with his two daughters, son, and sons-in-law each overseeing different areas of the business.
"I've only come this far because my employees supported me," he said. "I'm simply grateful to all of them."
Rather than "I can do it," Park said his favorite English phrase is "We can do it."
His journey from a small wig shop to a K-beauty distribution empire reflects the perseverance and pioneering spirit often associated with Koreans.
As the interview came to a close, Park offered a message to those pursuing their dreams.
"America is still a place full of opportunities," he said. "Don't be afraid. If you work hard, you can achieve your dreams. Don't give up before you've even tried. Challenge yourself while you still can."
jwc@yna.co.kr
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