Singer-actress Suzy recently found herself caught up in a sudden marriage rumor, with speculation pointing to APR CEO Kim Byung-hoon as the supposed groom-to-be. On August 28, Suzy’s agency Management SOOP CEO Kim Jang-kyun shut down the claim with a sharp warning on his personal account, writing, “If you get caught spreading false rumors, you’ll be in trouble.”
The rumor had started earlier the same day when a post on an online community alleged that Suzy was set to marry the CEO of a well-known company, claiming that media reports were imminent. The post spread rapidly, forcing Suzy’s agency CEO to respond and quash the speculation.
Kim Byung-hoon, the man at the center of the gossip, is no ordinary businessman. Born in 1988 and now 37 years old, he is the CEO who successfully listed APR on the stock exchange last year. In just 17 months, he transformed APR into South Korea’s largest beauty company by market capitalization, valued at ₩7.9 trillion (approx. $5.7 billion). His success has earned him the nickname “beauty tycoon.”
Under APR, Kim has secured a star-studded lineup of brand ambassadors, including actresses Kim Hee-sun and Jung Ji-so, variety show legend Yoo Jae-suk, and IVE’s Jang Won-young. For APR’s clothing label, Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon also served as ambassador.
The company’s stock performance has only fueled Kim’s rise. From an IPO price in the ₩50,000 range, APR’s shares have soared to over ₩220,000 as of August 29, nearly quadrupling in value. Kim personally holds over 11.95 million shares, or roughly 31.35% of the company, valued at ₩2.49 trillion ($1.8 billion) at the most recent closing price.
Beyond his business empire, Kim has also gained attention for his striking looks, often compared to actor Song Joong-ki. His personal social media account has only added to his public image, especially after photos of him posing with IVE’s Jang Won-young went viral among fans.
While the marriage rumor linking him to Suzy has been firmly denied, Kim Byung-hoon continues to draw intrigue both as a powerful beauty industry mogul and as a figure with unexpected celebrity connections.
Sources: nate
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