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Handsome: how its people are moving

The fashion company of Hyundai Department Store Group, running both its own brands and imported brands.

On Korea's National Pension Service register, Handsome had 1,442 members in Aug 2026, down 43 (−2.9%) from Oct 2025. Over the same period 170 people joined and 212 left.

Growth15/ 24−2.9%
Size7/ 241,442 people
Turnover (left ÷ team)22/ 2415%

Rank among 24 companies in Fashion & Luxury, highest first on all three (turnover: people who left over 10 months ÷ current team).

PEOPLE · PENSION REGISTER

1,442 people

10-month change: −43 (−2.9%)

Joined	170 people
Left	212 people

As of Aug 2026 · head office plus plants and branches of the same company · Source: National Pension Service workplace register (Korea's public data portal)

ROLES IT WILL LOOK FOR

Fashion merchandiser (MD) →This role decides, every season, what to make, how much of it, and where to sell it. It owns the product assortment, production quantities, pricing and volume by sales channel.
Brand manager →This role decides to whom and with what story a brand is sold, and pulls product, marketing and distribution in one direction. It exists in fashion, food and health functional foods alike.

Banseog note

Handsome — adding another layer of imported brands on top of its own brands ↓

Banseog note · Oct 25, 2026

Handsome — adding another layer of imported brands on top of its own brands

Where it stands now

Recovery and expansion — growing imported brands and overseas stores together while profits return

Sales in the first half of 2026 were KRW 773.6 billion, up 7.7% from a year earlier, and operating profit rose 82.7% to KRW 41.1 billion.

Sales from January to August 2026 of the 12 overseas fashion brands it has brought to Korea since 2022 rose 50% from a year earlier.

According to Korea's National Pension Service public workplace data, the company had 1,442 people on the pension register in August 2026, 43 (2.9%) fewer than in October 2025. Over that period 170 people joined and 212 left.

Three decisions within a year

More imported brands: it plans to bring in three more overseas brands, including SKIMS, by the first half of 2027, and to grow overseas brand stores from 60 to 90 by the end of 2027.
Experiential flagships: it opened 'TIME Seoul' in Cheongdam-dong in November 2025 and 'The Handsome House Seoul' in Daechi-dong in February 2026. The Handsome House gives nearly half its space to F&B, a beauty spa and cultural programmes.
Overseas expansion of its own brands: in early 2026 'SYSTEM' opened a permanent store at Galeries Lafayette in France and a men's pop-up at Harrods in the UK, and it has taken part in Paris Fashion Week 16 times in a row since 2019.

Three people it will look for

Overseas brand buyer and brand manager — must handle the introduction of three new brands and the expansion to 90 stores at the same time
Retail space and store development — must lead the openings of experiential flagships and the growing number of imported brand stores
Overseas wholesale and European store operations — must widen European outlets for its own brands, such as the permanent store in France and the pop-up in the UK

For HR

Imported brand buying and store development staff are people that other department-store-affiliated fashion companies and specialist distributors of imported brands are also looking for. Now, before the three new brands arrive, is the time to hire managers to run them.

For job seekers

Experience bringing an overseas brand into Korea and growing its stores, or handling European department store outlets yourself, is worth the most at this company right now.

A reading written from public sources. Sources: Newspim 2026-08-03 (first-half results), Financial News 2026-09-17 (overseas brand sales up 50%, three new brands, 90 stores), Newsis 2026-07-24 (TIME Seoul, The Handsome House, 16 Paris Fashion Weeks), Financial News 2026-10-19 (Galeries Lafayette permanent store, Harrods pop-up), Korea's National Pension Service public workplace data (headcount). Team size is from Korea's pension register.

Handsome: frequently asked questions

What does Handsome do?

The fashion company of Hyundai Department Store Group, running both its own brands and imported brands.

How many people work at Handsome?

1,442 members on Korea's pension register in Aug 2026 (10-month change: −43 (−2.9%)). The register counts the whole company in Korea.

Where does Handsome stand now?

Recovery and expansion — growing imported brands and overseas stores together while profits return. Imported brand buying and store development staff are people that other department-store-affiliated fashion companies and specialist distributors of imported brands are also looking for. Now, before the three new brands arrive, is the time to hire managers to run them.

Which roles will Handsome look for?

Roles such as Fashion merchandiser (MD), Brand manager. The role guides explain the work, the experience that leads there and what hiring teams check.

How can we hire people like Handsome's in Korea?

Banseog Search is a Korean executive search firm. Tell us the role and we look for the people in Korea who have done the same work.

For HR teamsKey people for companies like Handsome, found firstTalk to our search team →For strategy & business developmentRead Korea's consumer companies with usTalk to Banseog →

Handsome — adding another layer of imported brands on top of its own brands

Handsome: frequently asked questions

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