Get ready to dive into the incredible journey of Choi Bok-ho, a “first-generation fashion designer of Korea,” as he unveils his emotional untold story of humble beginnings and a dramatic turnaround that reshaped his entire life!
Tonight (the 13th) at 9:55 PM KST, tune into EBS’s “Seo Jang-hoon’s Neighbor Millionaire” to catch the legendary fashion designer Choi Bok-ho, who’s built an empire with cumulative sales reaching an astounding 500 billion won! Debuting way back in 1973, he’s celebrating his 53rd year in the industry, truly a living legend of Korean fashion.
The show will also take us inside his incredible tailor shop, nestled deep in the mountains of Cheongdo, Gyeongbuk, which he’s been running for a whopping 18 years! Choi Bok-ho spilled the beans, revealing, “We get anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 visitors a month,” and “Our monthly sales can hit up to 60 million won!” Prepare to be amazed! Viewers will also get a peek into his incredibly passionate daily life, still actively designing even as he approaches his eighties, complete with a unique outdoor fashion show set against a stunning mountain backdrop.
Choi Bok-ho’s story began as he was born posthumously and raised by his single mother. He shared that watching his mother, always impeccably dressed in neat Western-style clothes, sparked his natural interest in fashion. Inspired by Andre Kim, Korea’s very first male fashion designer, he chased his dreams with such fervor that he even dropped out of college to fully immerse himself in the world of fashion!
After his military discharge, he seriously sharpened his fashion prowess at the very same clothing academy that launched Andre Kim! He quickly became a hot topic with his groundbreaking designs right after his debut, even catching the eye of Chairman Choi Kyung-ja, famously known as the godmother of the fashion world, who personally offered him a scouting deal!
But hold on, despite his dazzling start, unexpected challenges soon struck! Choi Bok-ho candidly recalled, “I was let go after just one week of work, with a mere 800 won for my salary,” adding, “It truly felt like my world was crashing down.” Fans are eager to hear the full story behind how this rising star of the fashion world lost his job so quickly!
Following this setback, various circumstances led him to leave his Seoul life behind and make a fresh start in his hometown of Daegu. But even amidst crisis, his extraordinary intuition helped him find a groundbreaking solution! Instead of the elegant styles dominating fashion at the time, he brilliantly captured the hearts of the younger generation with unique items like ‘Bbaekbaji’ (white pants) and ‘Gajja Gadamai’ (fake jackets).
Choi Bok-ho’s designs sparked such a frenzy that he famously said, “I even had followers!” The streets were reportedly packed with people eager to mimic his unique style. He rapidly expanded his stores, growing his empire, and by the early 1980s, his monthly sales skyrocketed to an incredible 100 million won – the equivalent of a Seoul apartment! This cemented his status as a star designer, and he soon took his talent to the global stage, making his name known worldwide.
Don’t miss out! Choi Bok-ho’s incredible rags-to-riches journey and his unique fashion philosophy will be fully unveiled tonight (the 13th) at 9:55 PM KST on EBS’s “Seo Jang-hoon’s Neighbor Millionaire”!
