Gaeun Kwon named CEO of CJ Olive Young USA
This step underscores rising global appetite for Korean skincare and wellness amid competitive U.S. market dynamics.
USA – CJ Olive Young, South Korea’s leading beauty retailer, has appointed Gaeun Kwon as the first CEO of its U.S. operations, marking a pivotal step in its North American expansion.
Gaeun Kwon, previously director of global business at CJ Olive Young, assumed the CEO role for CJ Olive Young USA starting around August 2025.
Her prior roles included strategy business development manager at the company from December 2022, building on more than 10 years navigating the U.S. market.
This appointment positions her to steer the subsidiary amid plans for a flagship store debut in Pasadena, California, slated for May 2026.
The Pasadena outlet will act as a K-beauty hub, featuring AI-driven skin diagnostics, tailored consultations, and a selection mirroring the retailer’s 64,000-product lineup across its 1,390 South Korean stores.
Owned by CJ Group, Olive Young aims to blend rapid Korean beauty innovations with U.S.-specific insights to create a lasting omnichannel presence.
Global CEO Lee Sun-jung, the first woman in that role since 2022, will guide overarching international initiatives.
Kwon shared her vision, stating, “For over 20 years, Olive Young has transformed beauty discovery in Korea—now we’re prioritizing the U.S. by merging our dynamic innovation with local know-how to craft an omnichannel platform for fresh brands, trends, education, and enduring growth.”
CJ America and Olive Young USA highlighted her expertise in beauty and personal care on LinkedIn, expressing enthusiasm for West Coast rollouts and greater K-beauty access.
This move comes after Sephora recently planned to elevate its K-beauty offering through a new global strategic partnership with South Korea’s leading beauty and health retailer, CJ Olive Young.
Launching as an omnichannel concept, the collaboration will debut this fall in the United States, Canada, Hong Kong SAR, and key Southeast Asian markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, before extending into additional regions such as the Middle East, the UK, and Australia in 2027.
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