Ulzzang Star Hong Younggi Stuns With Record-Breaking Beauty Launch, Earning Over $290K in a Single Day

Hong Younggi, the original ulzzang star who captured hearts on Comedy TV's Ulzzang Generation back in 2009, has once again made headlines — this time not for her looks, but for her extraordinary business acumen. The influencer-turned-beauty entrepreneur revealed on February 24 that her latest cosmetics product launch generated a staggering 160 million won (approximately $111,000) in revenue within just 10 minutes of going live.

The 34-year-old shared screenshots of her sales dashboard on social media, accompanied by the incredulous caption: "In under 10 minutes? Is this for real?!" Her disbelief was matched only by the continued surge in orders throughout the day, with total sales ultimately surpassing 420 million won (roughly $291,000) and order counts exceeding 5,336 by the end of the business day.

A Highlighter That Lit Up the Market

The product at the center of this sales phenomenon was a highlighter from Hong's beauty brand, which she operates alongside an online clothing shopping mall. The item proved so popular that Hong warned customers it was approaching a complete sellout, urging fans to place their orders quickly before stock ran dry. According to multiple Korean media outlets, the highlighter's appeal was driven by Hong's authentic product reviews and her loyal community of followers who had been eagerly anticipating the launch for weeks.

The overwhelming demand left Hong's team scrambling to keep up. She noted in a follow-up post that her staff had been unable to take proper meal breaks due to the sheer volume of incoming orders, adding that she was "literally covering her mouth in shock at these record-breaking sales." Hong expressed deep gratitude to her loyal customer base while also apologizing for any potential delays in order processing and shipping.

From TV Screen to Business Mogul

Hong Younggi first rose to prominence as a teenager on the popular reality program Ulzzang Generation, which showcased Korea's most photogenic young faces and helped launch the entire ulzzang cultural phenomenon that would go on to influence Korean beauty standards for over a decade. The term "ulzzang," meaning "best face" in Korean, became a cornerstone of early Korean internet culture, and Hong was among its most recognized icons.

In the years since her television debut, Hong has transformed her online popularity into a thriving business empire encompassing both fashion and cosmetics. Now a mother of two sons — she married Lee Se-yong in 2012 — Hong has proven that the influencer-to-entrepreneur pipeline can yield remarkable results when paired with genuine product appeal and a dedicated following. Her journey from a teenage internet sensation to a multi-brand CEO generating hundreds of millions of won in a single day serves as an inspiring case study in the Korean influencer economy.

Industry Reactions and What's Next

Fellow creatives were quick to celebrate Hong's achievement. Fashion designer Kim Wuri publicly congratulated her, quipping that "the economic downturn is all lies" in light of Hong's explosive sales figures. The comment highlighted how influencer-driven brands continue to defy broader market headwinds in South Korea's competitive beauty industry, where personal brand power increasingly translates into commercial success.

Hong's record-breaking launch is the latest example of how Korea's first-generation internet celebrities have evolved into serious business players. With her beauty brand riding a wave of consumer enthusiasm and her highlighter product already approaching sellout status, Hong Younggi appears well-positioned to continue building on this momentum in the months ahead. For fans of K-beauty and the ulzzang era alike, this latest chapter in Hong's story is nothing short of inspiring.