Actor Kim Young-chul delivers another powerful and resonant story to viewers during the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday.
Airing on February 17 and 18, KBS1’s documentary special Global Korean Journey – Kim Young-chul Goes presents the lives of Korean entrepreneurs who crossed borders and transformed their names into global brands. Marking its third holiday season following previous Lunar New Year and Chuseok broadcasts, the program is expected to reaffirm its reputation as a signature human documentary for national holidays.
■ The K-beauty pioneer who reshaped the American Southeast
Part one follows the story of Chairman Park Hyung-kwon, a trailblazer who helped establish the K-beauty market in the southeastern United States.
His company, Beauty Master, operates 15 beauty supply retail locations across Georgia and Florida. Offering a full spectrum of hair and skincare products, the chain has grown beyond a simple retail store into a lifestyle platform serving multicultural consumers.
In cities such as Atlanta, a cultural hub of Black communities, and tourist destinations like Orlando and Miami, Park’s success has been driven by localization. The documentary reveals how his tailored strategies overcame barriers of language, culture, and race to win the trust of American consumers.
■ The perseverance of the “Giant of Hiroshima”
Part two introduces Chairman Kwon Yang-baek, known as the “Giant of Hiroshima.”
Born in Hiroshima in 1944 and a survivor of the atomic bombing, Kwon began his business with a single waste collection truck. Today, he leads a mid-sized corporate group with six subsidiaries.
From carrying waste by hand labor to building a comprehensive water and sewage management company in Hiroshima, his journey reflects extraordinary resilience. He also led the relocation of a Korean atomic bomb victims’ memorial to Hiroshima Peace Park, revived a struggling hotel, and supported local sports as owner of the social baseball team Hakuwa Victories. His life has been defined by a single principle, integrity.
Through his story, the program goes beyond success to examine the deeper meaning of proving one’s existence despite discrimination and hardship.
■ From strangers to pillars of their communities
This season focuses on the shared success DNA of Korean entrepreneurs who established themselves in foreign lands.
By examining their strategies and philosophies, the documentary offers an in-depth portrait of how immigrants rose from outsiders to key figures in their communities.
KBS1’s Global Korean Journey – Kim Young-chul Goes airs February 17 and 18 at 9:30 p.m., delivering a Lunar New Year special that captures both human resilience and global inspiration.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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