Choi Bok-ho, a first-generation fashion designer in Korea, recently shared his inspiring life story on a global scale, featuring his massive 2,500-pyeong atelier nestled in the mountains. His journey from the bottom to the world stage, and his current life of giving back using “scrap fabric,” left viewers deeply moved.
In the episode of EBS ‘Seo Jang-hoon’s Millionaire Next Door’ aired on the 13th, the spotlight was on Choi Bok-ho, the “fashion mogul with a 2,500-pyeong mountain atelier.” Having debuted in 1973, Choi has been an active designer for 53 years and is a living legend in the Korean fashion industry, with cumulative sales reaching 500 billion won.
The most eye-catching part of the episode was his enormous atelier located deep in the mountains. Explaining why he moved there 18 years ago despite everyone’s objections, Choi stated, “I missed the conversations with customers that had disappeared within the department store system,” adding, “I wanted to communicate with people while creating custom clothing.”
Word of mouth has turned the atelier into a famous landmark, attracting an average of 1,000 to 1,500 visitors per month. Monthly sales are reportedly as high as 60 million won.
Choi’s interest in clothing began naturally, influenced by his mother’s great fashion sense. He grew his dream of becoming a designer while admiring the legendary Andre Kim and entered the fashion academy that produced Andre Kim after completing his military service.
He first gained attention with a provocative debut work that criticized industrialization and environmental issues, which caught the eye of the fashion world’s matriarch, Chairperson Choi Kyung-ja, who selected him as her apprentice.
However, reality was far from glamorous. After getting a job at a dress shop, he was kicked out in just one week with only 800 won in wages because his production skills were lacking. He then worked as an unpaid intern to relearn the basics of cutting and sewing.
Determined to succeed, he found employment as a designer in the Edae dress shop district, the fashion hub of the time. He worked tirelessly, visiting about 200 shop windows every dawn to sketch popular designs.
While his career was soaring in Seoul, he left everything behind and returned to his hometown of Daegu upon hearing about his mother’s illness. Having to start from scratch again, he created a turnaround by introducing “Back Pants” (빽바지), which were trending in Seoul, to Daegu for the first time.
While other shops insisted on elegant styles, he captured the hearts of the youth with the bold silhouette of the “Back Pants,” gaining explosive popularity. This success allowed him to expand his business, even opening a fur boutique in a department store.
But an unexpected trial struck. A massive fire broke out at the department store where he was located, and he eventually had to sell his dress shop to pay off his debts.
In his moment of despair after losing everything, colleagues and market merchants reached out to help. Fellow designers sent him scrap fabrics, and merchants readily provided materials.
“I was able to survive again thanks to the help of people around me,” Choi said. “I believe it is a human duty to give back as much as I have received.” He revealed that his continued use of only Daegu-sourced fabrics is a reflection of this gratitude.
He later wrote another success story by hitting it big with shoulder-padded jackets, known as “Fake Gadamai” (가짜 가다마이). The product was a huge hit, and by the 1980s, Choi established himself as a brand representative with monthly sales of 100 million won.
He eventually grew into a global designer, expanding into major department stores in Seoul as well as international stages in London, Vancouver, and New York. He even shared a stage with his long-time idol, Andre Kim. Recalling the moment, Choi said, “I was truly overwhelmed. I didn’t even dare to sit at the same table as the teacher.”
He continues his philanthropic activities today. Since 2008, he has been making dolls from scrap fabric and donating the proceeds to charities. The scrap cloth that once helped him rise again is now becoming a source of hope for others.
Watching this, Seo Jang-hoon shared his heartfelt thoughts, saying, “Just as they say the best clothes are those that fit your body well, it seems the profession of a designer is a suit that fits you perfectly.” This moved Choi to tears, as he emotionally replied, “Oh, I’m tearing up.”
Meanwhile, EBS ‘Seo Jang-hoon’s Millionaire Next Door’ airs every Wednesday at 9:55 PM.
