[Exclusive] Kolon FnC Cuts Ties as Cho Seho's Fashion Brand Shuts Down Amid "Organized Crime" Controversy

Shutting Down Five Years After Its 2021 Launch
Kolon FnC Streamlines and Refocuses Its Brand Portfolio

The fashion brand Amopre, which featured the participation of broadcaster Cho Seho, is shutting down its business. Amopre was a menswear brand launched in 2021 with Cho Seho directly involved as Creative Director (CD), in collaboration with Kolon FnC.

A product collaborated with the Hannam-dong restaurant 'Bangul and Kkomak'. Provided by Amopre.

According to Kolon FnC on December 23, the brand operation contract between Cho Seho and Amopre will expire at the end of this month. With the contract ending, Amopre will cease its brand operations after the Fall/Winter (FW) 2025 season. In fact, when accessing the Amopre mall on the official Kolon FnC website, a message stating "Page not found" is currently displayed.

Amopre was introduced in 2021 as a brand focused on practical designs targeting "the average body type of Korean men," with Cho Seho actively participating from the planning stage. In its early days, the brand presented lively outfits featuring graphic designs such as "Joseph Smile" and "Joseph Flower," based on Cho Seho's signature. Since 2024, however, it has shifted to offering modern menswear centered on items like the "DBSG Jacket" and "setup (jacket and trousers)." Leveraging Cho Seho's network, the brand also collaborated with the Hannam-dong pub "Bangul and Kkomak," lifestyle brand "MHN," and Camel Coffee, attracting interest from younger consumers.

Within the fashion industry, there has been speculation that the controversy surrounding Cho Seho's alleged ties to organized crime may have influenced the decision to discontinue the brand. Some analysts point out that, despite certain Amopre products selling out and gaining popularity, the emergence of risks related to Cho Seho's personal life likely placed a significant burden on brand operations.

Recently, Cho Seho stepped down from several variety shows following claims by a crime report social media operator that "Cho Seho is acquainted with members of organized crime groups running illegal gambling sites" and that he "has promoted franchises operated by organized crime members." This led to his withdrawal from some entertainment programs in which he was appearing.

However, a Kolon FnC representative drew a clear line, stating, "This decision was naturally made as the contract period with Cho Seho expired," and emphasized that it was unrelated to recent controversies. The representative added, "The remaining inventory is expected to be sold through outlets, but the exact method and schedule for clearance have not yet been determined."

Instead, Kolon FnC plans to launch a new brand with a celebrity Creative Director (CD), building on its experience operating Amopre. A company representative explained, "Having accumulated know-how in running celebrity collaboration brands through Amopre, we will plan a new brand with another celebrity."

The company is also accelerating its efforts to phase out low-profit brands. Since last year, Kolon FnC has been streamlining some brands and focusing on efficiency by centering its business around key brands. While its flagship brand Kolon Sports is performing well in China, other brands have been sluggish due to the stagnation of the domestic fashion market.

As of the third quarter, sales for Kolon Industries' fashion division (Kolon FnC) amounted to 786.7 billion won, a decrease of about 5.3% compared to 831.1 billion won in the third quarter of the previous year. Consequently, the division's share of total Kolon Industries sales also dropped from 23.4% to 21.4%.

Kolon FnC ended the operations of the menswear brand "Freaker" and the womenswear brand "Limentary" last year. This year, "Jack Nicklaus" has shifted to a sub-license business model, the sports brands "Head" (ski and tennis) have been repositioned as sportswear brands, and the golf wear brand "Elord" has been transformed into a golf club specialty brand. Considering the favorable performance of the imported fashion segment in the domestic market, the company also introduced new high-end streetwear and designer brands in the second half of this year, such as the French designer brand "Dr?le de Monsieur" and the Italian designer brand "Diatico."