Fashion Mogul Kim Da-in's Journey: From $60 to a Billion-Dollar Empire

이미지 크게보기

The inspiring success story of Kim Da-in, the founder of a fashion brand with an annual revenue of 100 billion KRW, was unveiled on 'The Boss Has Donkey Ears'.

On the October 19th episode of KBS 2TV's variety show 'The Boss Has Donkey Ears', Park Myung-soo and Oh My Girl's Hyojung met with Kim Da-in, the founder of 'Maatin Kim', to delve into her business journey and daily life.

Born in 1992, Kim Da-in drew attention with her achievements at a young age. She revealed, “When I wrapped up, the sales were around 100 billion KRW,” astonishing everyone. This milestone was achieved at just 32 years old. Her newly launched brand also grew rapidly, surpassing 10 billion KRW in annual sales within just two years.

During the show, she showcased her luxurious apartment with a view of the Han River, stating, “I bought it two years ago. It was like a dream home,” revealing it was her own property. The Trimage apartment where Kim resides is known to house top celebrities like Son Heung-min, BTS, and Taeyeon.

이미지 크게보기

However, her path to success wasn't without challenges. Recalling the start of her business, Kim said, “I started working at 23. Initially, I went to Dongdaemun with just 60,000 KRW, knowing nothing.” She added, “People at the market would scold me, asking if I thought it was a department store.”

She continued, “I restarted with 300,000 KRW borrowed from my mom,” shedding tears as she shared her story. She also mentioned, “After borrowing 300,000 KRW from my mom, I never asked for money again,” leaving everyone in awe.

이미지 크게보기

Kim revealed that she sold out two coats, which was a surprising success.

As she launched a new brand, she candidly shared her current struggles, saying, “I’m working hard, but it’s driving me crazy,” while laughing. She added, “It looks cool when seen, but behind the scenes, it's very tough. Fashion trends change so much, and keeping up with them is challenging.”

Kim Da-in also addressed questions about her educational background, stating, “I didn’t even go to college,” which surprised many. Park Myung-soo responded, “I didn’t go to college either!” showing his empathy.

Reported by Na-yeon Cho, Ten Asia nybluebook@tenasia.co.kr