Korean beauty culture is making its mark on the global stage as three of Korea's most influential makeup artists and beauty creators have opened a pop-up salon in the heart of Manhattan for tvN's new reality show "Perfect Glow." The show features renowned makeup artist and YouTuber Park Hye-min, better known as Pony, along with fellow beauty creator LeoJ (Jeong Sang-gyu) and celebrity hair designer Kim Hyo-sook, who goes by Cha Hong.
The Korean Wave has already swept across various cultural sectors, from K-pop and K-dramas to Korean cuisine, and now K-beauty is taking center stage in this cultural expansion. "Perfect Glow" documents the journey of these Korean beauty professionals as they establish their temporary salon called "Danjang" (meaning "beautify" in Korean) in New York City, offering makeovers to local clients eager to experience authentic Korean beauty techniques firsthand.
The show boasts an impressive lineup of Korean beauty industry leaders. Park Hye-min (Pony) operates a YouTube channel with more than 5.8 million subscribers, making her one of the most influential beauty content creators globally. LeoJ brings his expertise from his beauty YouTube channel, which has garnered 1.4 million followers. Completing the trio is Kim Hyo-sook (Cha Hong), the founder of Chahong Ardor, one of Korea's most popular hair salon chains and a go-to celebrity hair designer.
The show also features notable Korean actors in supporting roles. Ra Mi-ran, known for her work in "Reply 1988" and "Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born," appears as the shop's CEO, while Park Min-young from "Marry My Husband" and "Confidence Queen" serves as the beauty consultant. Actor Joo Jong-hyuk from "Unmasked" rounds out the cast as the assistant manager of the Manhattan salon.
During an online press conference held Thursday, producer Kim Sang-ah explained the creative inspiration behind the show's concept. "I heard that K-beauty is gaining popularity in the US, and since K-content is already receiving global attention, I became curious whether that enthusiasm could extend to beauty as well," she said. "The project began with the idea of letting people experience what real K-beauty is like. We chose New York because it's a hub of trends and culture where diverse beauty styles converge."
The show goes beyond simply showcasing makeup techniques and contouring skills, focusing on human connections and personal stories. "In the end, it's all about meeting people," Kim added. "Since makeup and hair take a long time to do, we were able to capture a lot of the guests' stories." This approach allows viewers to witness not just physical transformations but also the emotional and cultural exchanges that occur during the beauty process.
Despite their expertise and popularity, the Korean artists admitted to feeling significant pressure when adapting their skills to an international audience. LeoJ openly discussed his initial concerns about transitioning from content creation to real-world salon work. "As a content creator, I wasn't sure if I'd do well spending time with clients in a salon-style setting, doing their makeup. Still, I was excited just to go and do makeup there," he said. "It was actually my first time working as part of a team like this, and I was so happy."
Pony shared similar sentiments about the challenges of working abroad without the ability to communicate as effectively as she does in Korea. "As a fellow creator, I completely understand what LeoJ said. I felt a lot of pressure at first," she revealed. "In Korea, I was able to perform well because I could explain the products and talk through the process while doing makeup -- but not being able to do that made me think a lot about how to adapt."
Working in Manhattan provided the Korean beauty professionals with unique insights into cultural differences in beauty standards and preferences. Pony observed distinct differences in how American and Korean clients approach beauty. "While doing makeup in Manhattan, people would say things like, 'You look so young,' or 'Your skin is amazing,' rather than asking, 'What product are you using?' That made me realize how much attention they pay to skin," she noted.
These cultural observations led to interesting discoveries about the fundamental differences between American and Korean beauty philosophies. "If American beauty tends to focus on glamour, I felt that Korean beauty emphasizes skin expression. So when I did makeup, I mainly shared skin care and related tips," Pony added, highlighting how K-beauty's emphasis on skincare and natural-looking results differs from Western beauty trends.
Cha Hong emphasized the personalized approach the team took with each client, ensuring that no two makeovers were identical. "If you watch the show, you'll notice there isn't a single makeup or hairstyle that's the same. Each look was customized to the individual. You won't see any overlap," she explained. "Our clients came from all walks of life -- different genders, ages and backgrounds -- so be sure to watch how each of them transforms."
"Perfect Glow" premieres Saturday at 10:50 p.m. on tvN, promising viewers an inside look at how Korean beauty culture translates to an international setting while showcasing the universal language of transformation and self-expression through beauty.
