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Korea Herald
13-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Soul intact, speed on: 3CE takes K-beauty global from Seoul
Under L'Oreal's wing, 3CE doubles in size as brand chief balances global ambition with Seoul-born identity To grasp the pulse of South Korea's trend-sensitive beauty scene, few barometers are more telling than 3CE Stylenanda -- a K-beauty brand where the pink-hued palettes reflect Seoul's ever-evolving youth culture. In an industry that churns out new beauty brands every season, 3CE has endured since its beginnings in 2004, originally starting as a fashion brand before launching its makeup line in 2009. Even after its 2018 acquisition by French cosmetics giant L'Oreal for roughly 600 billion won ($430 million), 3CE has held fast to its original spirit -- now carried forward by Federica Campari, global brand president of 3CE Stylenanda. 'What I bring to the brand is L'Oreal's core values: consumer centricity, growth and entrepreneurship,' she said during an interview with The Korea Herald in April. 'It's about protecting the soul of the brand while scaling it with global ambition.' As a L'Oreal veteran whose career has taken her from Italy to Paris and now to Seoul, she took the helm at the Seoul office less than two years ago. That 'soul,' she added, is unmistakably Korean and rooted in fashion, as 3CE has stayed true to its creative, trend-forward identity, consistently delivering stylish looks elevated by its makeup products. As part of its strategy to hone a distinctive edge, the company continues to refine its core lineup -- lips, blush and eyeshadow -- through bold textures and inventive concepts, steering clear of fleeting fads that could blur its identity in a crowded beauty landscape. This approach parallels the brand's intentional step back from skincare, a category already covered by Dr.G, the dermatologist-founded Korean brand that joined L'Oreal's portfolio last December. 'On one hand, you have 3CE as the number one Korean makeup brand in the world. On the other, there's Dr.G,' she said. 'By nature, they're positioned very differently.' According to her, the brand's focused mindset yielded results both in Korea and abroad. Under L'Oreal's stewardship, 3CE has more than doubled in size, its presence steadily radiating outward from Seoul to the wider world. It first scaled in China, where it now ranks among the top three brands in the mass makeup category. Japan followed, and most recently, the brand launched across Southeast Asia. 'In just a few months, we rolled out the brand in five countries in Southeast Asia, tailoring strategies to each local market,' Campari said. While the brand's Glazy Lip Glow and Blush Lighter climbed to the top of Olive Young's online makeup rankings at home, its Cashmere Hug Lipstick topped the charts on Shopee in Malaysia and Singapore. She accentuated: 'What resonates in Seoul may not immediately translate in Shanghai, Bangkok or Tokyo. For 3CE, our approach has been to find the right way to adapt without losing the soul of the brand.' As the brand scales, one key to maintaining momentum has been investing in local teams. Although global leadership remains based in Seoul, 3CE operates through L'Oreal's offices across Asia, embedding local talent to ensure market relevance. Campari attributed the early success to having the right talent on the ground, deep local consumer insight and the operational excellence that L'Oreal delivers. To continue capitalizing on K-beauty's momentum, Campari views speed as a defining factor in delivering spot-on products that meet evolving consumer demand. The fast-paced rhythm of K-beauty, in fact, is wired into the very tempo of the nation. 'Just by sitting in Korea, you're incentivized to go fast,' she quipped. 'Brands like 3CE need to be in the conversation, to be part of the cultural moment,' she continued, referring to the brand's high gear approach to trendspotting on social platforms, where it actively engages Gen Z audiences and gleans real-time insights from direct consumer feedback. 'We very often create with our consumers, not just for them,' Campari said, noting that comments and reviews frequently spark ideas for new innovations. Campari envisions a bright future in which K-beauty, to borrow her words, is no longer just a trend but a cultural force, moving in step with the continued rise of K-pop and Korean entertainment. Yet for now, 3CE's immediate priorities are clear: consolidate its position in Southeast Asia and keep building on its reputation as K-beauty's makeup leader. In the face of the ups and downs that lie ahead, Campari said the brand will stay fast, stay creative and stay true to itself. 'That's how 3CE will continue to thrive -- both at home and around the world.' The Top 100 Global Innovators series spotlights the trailblazers shaping Korea's future across a range of industries — from bold entrepreneurs and tech pioneers to research leaders — whose innovations are making a global impact beyond Korea. More than a celebration of success, the series offers a deeper exploration of the ideas, breakthroughs and strategies driving their achievements. — Ed.
Time Out
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
BIBI's Bangkok tour debut: dates, tickets, presale and everything you need to know
Some voices linger. BIBI's doesn't claws, clutches and croons its way into your subconscious until you're half-humming her most popular song, The Weekend, while waiting for your Grab. She's the chaotic, charming, deeply caffeinated force of nature who's turned vulnerability into armour and cheek into a genre. On August 9, the Seoul-born popstar lands in Bangkok for 2025 BIBI first WORLD TOUR [EVE], her inaugural solo concert on Thai soil. Set at UOB Live, EmSphere 's shiny new crown jewel. If you're late to the BIBI-verse (blasphemy, but we forgive), she's the genre-defying musician with hits like BIBI Vengeance, The Weekend and Bam Yang Gang – the latter a track that sounds like a snack, and somehow is. Her music is sultry yet self-aware, wounded but winking. And while some stars dip a toe in acting for variety's sake, BIBI dove straight into a pool of despair in Hopeless, a film that not only showcased her acting chops but won her the Best New Actress gong at the 60th BaekSang Arts Awards. So if your August plans included doing absolutely nothing, we suggest a minor revision. And here's everything you need to know, including pricing. When is BIBI going on tour? BIBI's world tour dates are all between May and the very end of October 2025. When do tickets go on sale? Set your alarms: general sale for all shows goes live on Thursday May 8 at 10am. Is there a presale? Various presales will take place. Here's the lowdown. Weverse members can access early tickets on Tuesday May 6 between 10am and 2pm through Thaiticket Major. Those with a Mastercard get priority booking from Tuesday May 6 at 4pm until 9.59am on Wednesday May 7 via Thaiticket Major. Live Nation Tero users can join the presale on Wednesday May 7 from midday until 11.59pm – registration's free on Live Nation Tero. How much do tickets cost? Seats are priced at either B2,500 or B3,500, with standing options at B2,800 or B3,800. VIP access is set at B5,500, and the VVIP tier comes in at B7,000. Seating map Here's the seating map, according to Thaiticket Major Where else is BIBI going on tour? BIBI's 2025 tour will travel through parts of Asia, North America and Australia. Here's the full tour poster.
South China Morning Post
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Meet Steven Yeun's ‘strength', his wife, Joana Pak: a photographer, she dated the Golden Globe winner long-distance while he filmed The Walking Dead; the pair have since welcomed 2 children
Emmy-winning actor Steven Yeun is booked and busy. The Seoul-born Minari and Beef star is currently promoting his latest film, Bong Joon-ho's Mickey 17, in which he plays a pilot named Timo who is close to lead actor Robert Pattinson 's character, Mickey Barnes. This is the second time Yeun has collaborated with the Oscar-winning director, who previously worked with him on Okja (2017). Steven Yeun as pilot Timo during the filming of Mickey 17. Photo: AP Advertisement On the small screen, the third season of Yeun's animated TV show Invincible recently arrived, creating major buzz of its own. The Oscar nominee voices the eponymous superhero in the series, also known as Mark Grayson. In a recent episode, Yeun played 18 alternate-dimension versions of his character, setting up the Invincible War plotline. With such highly acclaimed projects under his belt, Yeun, 41, is constantly in the limelight, so his personal life has also drawn attention. Here's everything you need to know about Yeun's wife, Joana Pak, whom he called his 'strength' during his 2024 Golden Globes acceptance speech for best actor in Beef. What's her background? Steven Yeun and Joana Pak with their two children. Photo: @philchang__/Instagram Joana Pak, 38, hails from Fayetteville, Arkansas, according to her Flickr account. She later moved to Chicago, where she attended Columbia College, per The Hollywood Reporter. Little did she know that she would meet her husband in the Windy City. What does she do for work? Steven Yeun has been with wife Joana Pak (second right) since 2009. Photo: @catysolone/Instagram While Yeun creates magic in front of the camera, Pak's area of expertise is behind it. She is a photographer, per People and the owner of company Jo Pakka Photography, according to PureWow. She has shared some of her work on platforms Flickr and Tumblr, including shots of nature and of her husband.
