From Rapper to CEO! Kim Jin-pyo Shares His Life as the Head of a Writing Instrument Company

Rapper Kim Jin-pyo has shared an update on his life as the CEO of an imported writing instrument company, a business he inherited from his maternal grandfather.

On May 9, a video titled “[Chairman’s Legacy] Kim Jin-pyo, aren’t you doing music these days?” was uploaded to the YouTube channel ‘Defconn TV’.

In the video, Kim Jin-pyo introduced himself as the CEO of “Korea Pilot,” a company specializing in imported writing instruments.

His close friend Defconn noted, “He inherited (his maternal grandfather’s business) and is working really hard,” to which Kim Jin-pyo referred to the founder, former Chairman Ko Hong-myung, as “my grandfather’s legacy.”

Kim Jin-pyo opened up about the intimidation he felt as a child, recalling, “He was a very authoritarian person. On days we had dinner together, I’d already have indigestion because I was worried he might ask me something during the meal.”

The company’s representative product is the Hi-Tec ballpoint pen. He explained, “It took over the Korean stationery market. Many people mistakenly think they are mostly imported from Japan, but almost everything available in Korea was produced in Korea, except for the 0.25 version.”

Having built a strong musical career with the group Panic and as a solo artist, and having balanced roles as a racing team director and broadcaster, Kim Jin-pyo reflected on taking over the company: “The job of a racing team director involves planning the annual budget and giving presentations to the headquarters to say ‘this much money is needed.’ I did that for 10 years, so I thought it would be similar. If I had only done music, I would have said I couldn’t do it.”

According to Kim Jin-pyo, “Korea Pilot” was in a state of complete capital impairment after the founder, his maternal grandfather, passed away. He explained, “My mother wanted to protect the company. Out of a bit of sympathy, I joined the company, thinking, ‘I don’t know if I can be of help, but should I try?'”

He also revealed why the company, which thrived in the early 2000s, began to decline. Kim Jin-pyo stated, “The decline started in 2004. Whenever there was a profit, my grandfather bought shares of Pilot Japan. Consequently, the new chairman in Japan moved to defend management rights and suddenly announced that the Japanese company would stop supplies.” He added, “The final order was for an amount that could be sold for nearly 10 years, and the price was increased nearly twofold.”

He recalled, “Until 2016, when my grandfather passed away, the company suffered annual losses of 3 to 4 billion won for four years.”

After joining the company, Kim Jin-pyo began negotiating with Japan and successfully re-entered the market in 2020, leaving Defconn impressed. Kim Jin-pyo noted, “I believe it’s because the products are good.”

Born in 1977, Kim Jin-pyo debuted in 1995 with the group Panic alongside singer Lee Juck and has since been active as a solo singer, rapper, and MC. Known as a representative ‘car enthusiast’ in the entertainment industry, he also served as a racing team director for 10 years.