"I'm a woman who served in the Korean military"... The Person Kim Hea Kyung Met in Shanghai
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- 2026-01-08 14:01:32
- Updated
- 2026-01-08 14:01:32
[Financial News] Kim Hea Kyung, who accompanied President Lee Jae-myung on his state visit to China, drew attention when she met Cao Lu, a former member of the group Fiestar, at a K-beauty event in Shanghai.
Cao Lu, encountered at the 'K-Beauty Glow Week in Shanghai'
On the 7th, Kim visited the 'K-Beauty Glow Week in Shanghai' held at the Fosun Art Center in Shanghai. The event featured over 50 Korean cosmetics brands, and was attended by local Chinese buyers and Wanghong (influencers).
A particularly notable moment was when Cao Lu, now a prominent influencer in China, had an impromptu conversation with Kim. Introducing herself, Cao Lu said, "I graduated from university in Korea and worked as an entertainer," and added, "I was a Chinese member of a K-pop idol group."
She continued, "I also served in the Korean military," explaining, "I appeared on the TV program Real Man. I'm a woman who completed military service," which brought laughter. Kim responded, "That must be why you looked familiar to me."
Cao Lu debuted with Fiestar in 2012. After the group disbanded in 2018, she returned to China and has focused on live commerce. In May last year, she appeared on a Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) variety show and revealed, "Last year, I achieved 1 billion won in sales through live commerce."
Cao Lu: "I'm actively introducing K-beauty to China"
When Kim asked which Korean cosmetics she had used, Cao Lu replied, "I used Korean cosmetics throughout university in Korea," and noted, "Korean cosmetics suit Asian people well. We have similar thin and sensitive skin types."
She added, "Drawing on my work experience in Korea, I am actively introducing K-beauty to my Chinese friends. They are very interested in K-beauty." When Kim remarked, "It would be great if people could buy Korean cosmetics in China without having to visit Korea," Cao Lu agreed, saying, "That's right. There are many Korean cosmetics stores on various platforms, so it's easy to purchase them."
On the same day, Kim also attended a K-beauty new product launch competition and explored a pop-up store, personally testing the products. She highlighted sheet masks as the best value among Korean cosmetics, revealing, "Every night, President Lee and I do a 'one sheet mask a day' routine," which drew attention.
bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun Reporter