Actor and director Ku Hye-sun, who directly participated in developing a hair roller product, has officially launched it, and an unexpected debate over its price is continuing online. Ku Hye-sun herself has also issued a statement to explain the situation. It remains to be seen whether the controversy can be quelled.
Recently, Ku Hye-sun revealed the official sales page for the hair roller she directly helped develop, "KuRoll." The product is sold individually for 13,000 won, and a two-piece set is sold for 25,000 won. As soon as the product was revealed, it attracted attention, but various opinions about the price also began to emerge.
Some netizens pointed out that ordinary hair rollers sold on the market cost a few hundred to around a thousand won (Asung Daiso Co. standard) and reacted, saying "Isn't the price excessively expensive" given the 13-fold price difference. In particular, some said it was burdensome, noting that "it's comparable to the price of rechargeable hair rollers."
On the other hand, many argued that the price is understandable when considering the product's development process and technical features. It was reported that Ku Hye-sun participated directly in the entire process from the idea stage to product planning, design, naming, and branding. The product also reinterprets the conventional round hair roller structure and uses high-functionality composite materials, and the inclusion of patented technology was emphasized.
As the controversy spread, Ku Hye-sun posted an explanation on SNS. She said the product "reduces plastic use by more than 80% compared with conventional round hair rollers" and explained the product features, saying, "Unlike existing products where hair gets tangled and dirty, you can open it to easily remove hair, and its durability allows it to be used semi-permanently."
Regarding the price controversy, she said, "The initial manufacturing quantity was not large, so the cost is high and the current price is somewhat high," and added, "We plan to offer discount events so consumers can purchase without burden." She also emphasized the product's eco-friendliness, saying, "Please use it if you consider the environment."
However, some have pointed out that even if the product is eco-friendly in purpose, it will be difficult to spread widely if price accessibility is low. They say that for eco-friendly consumption to take hold, a price range that more consumers can afford without burden is necessary.
Meanwhile, Ku Hye-sun was accepted into the KAIST Graduate School of Science Journalism master's program in engineering in 2024 and participated in product development with researchers. It is reported that while attending Sungkyunkwan University she worked on a patent application project and conceived the product from ideas based on the hair rollers students wear in their hair.
Amid the ongoing debate over the product price, attention is focused on how Ku Hye-sun's announced discount plans and the product's technical value will change consumers' evaluations in the future.
[Photo] "STAGEONE ENTER, SNS
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