"Is This Really 450,000 Won?" Goo Hye-sun's Handmade Fountain Pen Sells Out in a Day Despite Price Controversy

Goo Hye-sun's Fountain Pen Sells Out in One Day
Previous Hair Roller Also a Hit with 30,000 Units Sold, Nearly 400 Million Won in Sales

Actress and venture company CEO Goo Hye-sun (age 40) launched a handmade fountain pen priced at 450,000 won, which sold out within just one day of release. Previously, Goo Hye-sun had already solidified her reputation as a businesswoman, as a hair roller she developed herself surpassed 30,000 cumulative sales.

Some handcrafted fountain pen items released by actress Koo Hye-sun are sold out, drawing attention. Koo Hye-sun SNS

Sold Out in a Day Despite High Price Controversy

On August 18, Goo Hye-sun announced the launch of her handmade fountain pen via her social networking service (SNS), commenting, "Since the price is quite high, I hope people will view it as a work of art while using it."

The product page introduced 14 different fountain pen models, each with unique designs and engravings, priced at 450,000 won per pen. The fountain pen comes with a faux leather case. Related accessories are priced at around 220,000 won.

Despite debates over the high price, the sales results were unexpected. By August 19—just one day after launch—some fountain pen products were already sold out on the sales page.

Hair Roller Labeled as "Expensive" Also Sells 30,000 Units

Previously, Goo Hye-sun had also developed and introduced the "Kuroll," a hair roller that unfolds. Unlike traditional cylindrical hair rollers, it flattens, making it more compact. Its "self-restoration" feature allows it to return to its original form, earning it recognition as an outstanding patented product.

Actress Gu Hye-sun is wearing a hair roller she produced. Gu Hye-sun SNS

The Kuroll also drew controversy upon release due to its price. A single Kuroll was sold for 13,000 won, with a set of two for 25,000 won. Online, many pointed out that these prices are much higher compared to regular hair rollers commonly sold for several hundred to about 1,000 won each.

In response, Goo Hye-sun explained, "Because the initial production quantity was small, the production cost was high, and for this reason, the current price is on the higher side. However, we plan to offer discount events over time so that customers can purchase without burden."

Despite the controversy, cumulative sales of the Kuroll exceeded 30,000 units. With a unit price of 13,000 won, simple calculation suggests total sales of about 390 million won. However, this figure is the total revenue, calculated by multiplying sales price by quantity sold, and does not account for costs such as manufacturing, subcontracting, and distribution, meaning the actual net profit is different.

Goo Hye-sun made her debut as a commercial model in 2002 and rose to fame through works like "Nonstop 5" and "Boys Over Flowers." Alongside her acting career, she entered the Department of Film at Sungkyunkwan University's School of Art in 2011 and graduated in 2024. Afterwards, she enrolled at KAIST to pursue her dream of becoming a venture entrepreneur, graduating early in January of this year.

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