Korean Actress-Entrepreneur Ku Hye-sun Launches Exclusive Handmade Hair Roll Pouch: Is It Worth the Price?

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Actor-turned-entrepreneur Gu Hye-sun is turning heads after unveiling a leather pouch she personally crafted for hair rollers.

On the 19th, Gu posted several photos on her personal Instagram with the caption Up-All-Night Handmade. The item is a dedicated pouch for the patented hair roller she launched. The set includes two hair rollers and a keyring and is priced at 150,000 KRW (about $112.50).

Reactions have been mixed. Some buyers say the pouch feels pricey, while others are willing to pay for a handmade, limited-edition piece from Gu herself. Multiple versions of the leather pouch are currently sold out on her website.

Earlier, on the 4th, Gu officially announced the sale of the hair roller she developed. She set the price at 13,000 KRW (about $9.75) for a single roller and 25,000 KRW (about $18.75) for a two-piece set, which sparked debate online.

Gu said the product cuts plastic content by more than 80 percent. She noted that initial production runs were small, which raised costs, but she plans to ease the price burden for consumers with future discounts and promotions.

Gu first entered the entertainment world in 2002 as an advertising model and later gained wide popularity through shows like Nonstop 5 and Boys Over Flowers.

She originally enrolled in Sungkyunkwan University’s Department of Film in 2011, returned to school in 2020, and graduated at the top of her class in February 2024. In June of the same year, she began a master’s in engineering at KAIST’s Graduate School of Science Journalism, where she developed an eco-friendly hair roller during her studies. She also completed the KAIST program early.