[Exclusive] Byunghun Kim, CEO of APR and Leading Figure in K-Beauty, to Speak at BoF Forum in the US for the First Time from Korea

Speaking Alongside Executives from Sephora, Estée Lauder, and Unilever

Byunghun Kim, CEO of APR, has become the first executive from Korea's beauty industry to be invited as a speaker at the Business of Fashion's Beauty Global Forum (BoF), often referred to as the "Davos Forum" of the global beauty sector. During his trip to the United States for the event, Kim is also expected to visit local business sites, including Costco and Walmart.

Byunghun Kim, CEO of APR

According to a compilation of reports by The Asia Business Daily on June 25, Kim will attend the BoF Global Beauty Forum, held over three days starting today in Napa Valley, California. At the event, he is scheduled to participate in an exclusive conversation covering APR's global growth strategy, the spread of K-Beauty, and the company's competitive edge in beauty tech.

In promotional materials for the event, BoF described APR as "the hottest beauty company in Korea."

This annual event, hosted by the global fashion and beauty media outlet Business of Fashion (BoF), takes place in Napa Valley, California. Now in its fourth year, the forum is an exclusive gathering that invites only about 150 key figures, including CEOs, founders, and investors from leading global beauty companies.

Kim has been invited as a speaker alongside Guillaume Motte, CEO of Sephora; Jane Hertzmark Hudis, Executive Group President of Estée Lauder; and Mary Carmen Gasco-Buisson, CEO of Unilever Prestige—some of the world's most prominent beauty industry leaders.

This is seen as a testament to the elevated status of K-Beauty. While the global beauty market was once dominated by multinational corporations, domestic companies such as APR have recently been recognized for their innovation and growth potential, establishing themselves as key players in the global beauty industry.

In fact, APR has maintained rapid growth. Founded in 2014, the company has posted growth for 11 consecutive years. Last year, its revenue reached 1.53 trillion won, more than doubling from the previous year. In the first quarter of this year, sales grew by 123% compared to the same period last year, with 90% of total revenue generated from overseas markets.

The company's valuation has also soared. When APR was listed on the KOSPI in February last year, its market capitalization stood at around 2.4 trillion won. It has since surged to approximately 14 trillion won, significantly surpassing the market capitalizations of traditional beauty giants Amorepacific and LG Household & Health Care.

This invitation is particularly noteworthy as Kim, who has generally avoided public exposure, is stepping onto the global stage. Except for APR’s own Medicube events, it has been rare for him to appear at official functions.

Shin Jaeha, Vice President of APR, is also reported to be accompanying Kim on this trip. In addition to attending the forum, Kim is expected to assess the local U.S. distribution market. Given that APR considers the U.S. market a core driver of growth, there is a strong possibility that Kim will personally visit key distribution channels in the U.S., such as Costco and Walmart.

An industry insider commented, "Together with the WWD Beauty CEO Summit, BoF is one of the two top-tier events in the global beauty industry. It is unprecedented for a Korean executive like Byunghun Kim to be invited as a speaker."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.