Kim Byung-hoon

Kim Byung-hoon (; born November 5, 1988) is a South Korean entrepreneur. He is founder and chief executive officer of APR Corp, a beauty tech company. Forbes estimated his net worth at US$2.7 billion in April 2026, ranking him 21st among Korea’s Richest 50 list.

Early life and education Kim was born in Seoul. In 2007, he entered Yonsei University to study business administration. During an exchange program in California, he began developing mobile applications, discovering a talent for identifying digital consumer behaviour long before it became mainstream.

Career In 2014, Kim founded APR Corp. Its flagship brand, Medicube, was launched in 2016 and gained initial traction through its skincare line. The subsequent roll-out of at-home beauty devices under the brand in 2021 further accelerated the company’s growth, becoming a primary driver of its market expansion.

In 2024, APR went public. Kim’s stake in the company made him a billionaire.

In its annual 'Top 100 Beauty Companies' ranking, the fashion trade journal WWD identified APR the fastest-growing major beauty company of 2025.

The company has become Asia’s most valuable beauty company by market capitalization in 2026, surpassing regional rivals including Amorepacific, LG H&H, Shiseido and Proya Cosmetics.

In April 2026, APR was named to the TIME100 Most Influential Companies list, making headlines as the first Korean beauty brand to ever be included.

Personal life In 2025, Kim purchased an apartment in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, for ₩29 billion.