Early Life
Suh Kyung-bae was born in Seoul, South Korea, on January 14, 1963. He is the youngest of six children. His early life was influenced by his family's involvement in the beauty industry. His grandmother produced hair treatment products using Camellia oil. Suh's father, Suh Sung-hwan, founded Amorepacific, Korea's first cosmetics research laboratory. Suh attended Gyeongseong High School and later pursued a degree in Business Administration at Yonsei University. He furthered his education with an MBA from the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University.
Rise to Success
Suh joined Pacific Chemical in 1987. In 1997, at the age of 34, he took over as CEO of Amorepacific from his father, Suh Sung-whan. He inherited the cosmetics company, which was smaller than the rest of the family's business ventures at the time. Suh spearheaded the company's global expansion, transforming Amorepacific into a global brand. Under his leadership, Amorepacific gained worldwide recognition and became a leader in the K-beauty wave, with brands like Laneige and Sulwhasoo becoming global favorites.
Key Business Strategies
Suh Kyung-bae focused on innovation, research, and development, reinvesting a significant portion of Amorepacific's revenue in these areas. He expanded the company's brand portfolio, including luxury lines and affordable options. Suh emphasized understanding consumer needs, particularly women, and expanded the company's presence in key markets like China. The company also focused on sustainable sourcing and practices, and also utilized Hallyu celebrity endorsements. Amorepacific has been recognized for its focus on natural ingredients and its pioneering role in using ginseng in cosmetics.
Philanthropy
Suh established the Suh Kyung-bae Science Foundation in 2016. The foundation supports innovative research in basic science and the promotion of bioscience. It has awarded grants to numerous scientists to advance various research fields.