Matin Kim founder Kim Dain appeared on Bosses' Ears Are Donkey Ears.
On the 19th episode of KBS2's Bosses' Ears Are Donkey Ears, scenes showed Park Myung Soo and Oh My Girl's Hyojung meeting Kim Dain, the founder of Matin Kim, the 100 billion-won sales legend.
Kim Dain, who started an online market at the age of 23 and officially branded Matin Kim in 2018, said of Matin Kim, "At the end, sales were about 100 billion won. It was 100% self-made, and after resigning as CEO I launched a new brand. It's been exactly two years, and annual sales are about 10 billion won. I lived hard and I have to live harder." Hyojung, impressed by what Kim Dain achieved two years older than her, marveled, "How can they be so different?"
With an exceptional sense for the fashion business, Kim Dain said, "I'm going crazy too. It's much harder behind the scenes than it looks. Fashion trends change quickly, so it's not easy to keep up," adding, "I habitually observe a lot in daily life to watch trends." Kim Dain praised Park Myung Soo's layered jacket and, when told she seemed more like a sales employee than a company CEO, formed a bond by saying, "The company doing well comes before my pride."
Kim Dain's company building was full of clothes to be released for 2026 S/S. Meeting employees and checking samples, Kim Dain held a sample preview meeting and spent time making improvements. Immediately entering boss mode, Kim Dain's expression changed, and she was 180 degrees different from the lively home image. In particular, she sought advice from Park Myung Soo and Hyojung for a pop-up store, and when the "police line" idea came up she moved to execute it right away, showing remarkable initiative. Meanwhile, Kim Sook and TOMORROW X TOGETHER's Hueningkai praised Kim Dain but said, "It would be hard as an employee," "It's too impulsive," and "Execution is good, but it might drain your energy."
Regarding the Matin Kim legend, Kim Dain said, "My husband and I say that it became truly famous when not only in areas with many young people but also in regions with diverse age groups you could see people wearing our products." She added, "You have to keep running into people wearing my clothes for 100 billion won in sales to come." Hyojung said, "It seems like five out of ten people need to be wearing it."
Kim added, "When customers send requests directly via DM, I tend to respond directly. I immediately put requests on the meeting agenda to identify needs. Maybe that's why MZ people love us." She also revealed a global market strategy, saying, "We collaborated with TOMORROW X TOGETHER's Yeonjun and the response was good abroad as well."
Kim Dain, who did not graduate from university, said, "I entered the fashion world around 23 and started with a Dongdaemun market purchasing blog market. At first I went to Dongdaemun with 60,000 won and got scolded, like 'Do you think you're at a department store?' The reality was harder than I thought, and the two jackets I bought for 60,000 won didn't sell, leaving me penniless. My mother lent me 300,000 won, and after that I never begged for money. I tried again with two coats, sold out, and steadily grew to reach 100 billion won in sales."
Starting again with a new brand, Kim Dain said, "I was careful about bubbles because I wondered if what I achieved was truly mine. I wanted to return to my original intention, and since I'm still young I wanted to try. " She steeled her resolve for the future.
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