IFEZ Journal

Shin Yong-suk  The interior structure of your building is quite unique. What are the two steel sculptures in the indoor garden on the fourth floor?

Park Jino  These are actually old reactors and electrolysis equipment from the early days of our company in the 1980s. Instead of discarding them, we chose to preserve them as a visual history. A professor from Sookmyung Women’s University suggested turning them into artworks, and an installation artist transformed them into steel sculptures.

Shin Yong-suk  How was Daebong LS founded in the 1980s?

Park Jino  My father, Chairman Park Jong-ho, graduated from the College of Pharmacy at Seoul National University and built his career at leading pharmaceutical research institutes. Drawing on his drug development experience, he expanded the business through Bibong Fine Chemical, starting with raw materials for hair perm solutions and later localizing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and amino acids.

Over time, the company diversified into cosmetic ingredients, pharmaceuticals, eco-friendly biomaterials, OEM/ODM production, and human testing services, ultimately evolving into the Daebong Group.

Shin Yong-suk  I understand you graduated from Yonsei University College of Medicine. That seems like an ideal background for the cosmetics industry. Did you pursue medicine with the intention of continuing the family business?

Park Jino  I initially enrolled in medical school with the goal of becoming a research-focused doctor rather than a practicing clinician. However, as I progressed in my studies, I discovered that the reality differed from my expectations. During the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, my father faced serious challenges, prompting me to join the company.  Since then, I have focused on developing Daebong LS into a research-driven company focused on sustainable natural materials.

Shin Yong-suk  The structure of your new Songdo headquarters seems to reflect that decision. Could you share its key features with us?

Park Jino  The new headquarters in Songdo is a comprehensive hub that integrates the full process—from cosmetic ingredient development to manufacturing and clinical testing—into a streamlined, one-stop system. This framework fosters collaboration with international companies and boosts R&D productivity. It also enables us to create an integrated production environment that encompasses not only cosmetics but also OTC products and medical devices.

Shin Yong-suk  What do you think has driven the global rise of K-beauty?

Park Jino  Korean consumers are highly discerning—perhaps even more so than Japanese consumers—and expect a broad variety of options. To satisfy these demands, we have established a highly advanced and diverse value chain beginning with the raw materials.

In addition to swift product development, a crucial factor is the company’s capacity to promote convergence technologies by broadening R&D efforts into related sectors, including products akin to cosmetics. In addition, K-beauty has benefited from the global popularity of Korean culture, including K-pop and K-dramas.

Shin Yong-suk  What will be key to sustaining K-beauty’s growth?

Park Jino  The strength of K-beauty’s competitiveness fundamentally resides in its clean beauty approach and sustainable bio technologies rooted in advanced material science and research and development. Daebong LS specializes in creating functional materials derived from natural ingredients to satisfy the changing preferences of consumers. Moving forward, the K-beauty industry needs to go beyond mere product rivalry and focus on developing scientifically validated and safe materials.

Shin Yong-suk  What types of raw materials are used in green bio technologies supporting K-beauty?

Park Jino  We process over 50 types of natural and organic raw materials. For instance, yuzu from Goheung, Jeollanam-do, was once discarded after processing the seeds. Now, we extract oil from those seeds to develop beneficial products. We incorporate camellia and cypress from Jeju, along with mugwort and ginseng from Ganghwa. Through fermentation and eco-friendly catalysts, we enhance these ingredients’ effectiveness, resulting in safe and highly potent products. This approach ensures that green bio will continue to propel the evolution of K-beauty.

Shin Yong-suk   How would you assess the global standing of Korea’s cosmetics industry?

Park Jino  Korea is the third-largest exporter of cosmetics worldwide. During my recent business trip to Europe, I distinctly sensed the increasing admiration for Korea and its emerging prominence on the global stage.

As the collaboration between K-fashion and K-beauty grows stronger, 

I believe Korea’s cosmetics industry will elevate its global influence even more.

Shin Yong-suk K-beauty significantly contributes to shaping the national image. As Songdo enters a new era, I hope Daebong LS will emerge as a global leader in the cosmetics sector, driven by the philosophy that 

“benefiting others ultimately benefits oneself.” Thank you for dedicating your time to this interview.