On the upcoming episode of EBS's 'Seo Jang-hoon's Neighboring Millionaire,' airing on the 22nd, the dramatic life story of Park Soon-ho, the chairman who established Korea's first-generation fashion group, will be unveiled. Starting from a small wholesale shop in Busan's central market in 1973, he built a leading fashion company from scratch, achieving an annual revenue of 1 trillion won in 2011, marking a significant milestone in Korean clothing history.
The brand he created boasts nationwide recognition, with hardly anyone in Korea unfamiliar with its name over the past half-century. Top stars of their time, including Lee Moon-sae, Jeon Kwang-ryeol, Jung Woo-sung, Lee Dong-wook, and Namgoong Min, have been featured as advertising models. Park Soon-ho himself once stepped in front of the camera alongside actor Jung Joon-ho, revealing an intriguing part of his career. In the commercials set to be revealed on the show, he captivates with a presence rivaling that of professional actors. Additionally, it's revealed that his life inspired the 2005 hit drama 'Fashion 70s,' which depicted the dreams and love of a fashion designer, adding to the intrigue of his real-life story.
The episode will also unveil Park Soon-ho's grand mansion, which Seo Jang-hoon and Jang Ye-won describe as resembling a drama set. The impressive estate, featuring a main house and a separate annex, is revealed after passing through a vast garden. Notably, Park introduces the annex as a house built for his second daughter, sparking curiosity. It turns out that the space was meticulously created to persuade his daughter, who was considering becoming a nun, to stay. However, he couldn't change her mind, admitting, "I built this to keep her from leaving... but I couldn't stop her," evoking a sense of poignancy.
The show will also reveal the unique lifestyle he shares with his wife in the main house. An old massage chair with worn leather hints at the modesty behind the 'billion-dollar legend.' As expected from the head of a first-generation clothing company, his wardrobe, filled with clothes, is a sight to behold. The special secrets hidden within what he describes as "a collection in itself" will be disclosed in the broadcast.
Park Soon-ho's candid story can be seen on 'Seo Jang-hoon's Neighboring Millionaire,' airing at 9:55 PM on the 22nd.
Reporter: Jung Se-yoon, Ten Asia yoon@tenasia.co.kr