In-depth Analysis Report

Younme Clinic Hongdae

Representative Director Ko Sung-kyun

Disciplined Safety Technical Differentiation Customer Communication

Executive Summary

Unique Medical Staff Background

Representative Director Ko Sung-kyun is a former Army Major General and Superintendent of the Korea Military Academy, suggesting a philosophy of leadership, discipline, and safety that differentiates him.

Procedure Philosophy & Expertise

The clinic prioritizes 'Naturalness' and 'Safety', emphasizing individual facial balance. It's recognized for high expertise in Thread Lifting, having won '1st Place in Korea Brand Satisfaction Index'.

Proprietary Procedure Programs

Beyond simple fillers or Botox, the clinic possesses signature procedures developed or protocol-established in-house, such as Bebe-fill and Ssok Injection.

Market Reputation

It maintains a high rating close to 5 out of 5 (9.4~9.5) on major aesthetic medical platforms like Gangnam Unni, receiving positive evaluations for customer service and the naturalness of procedure results.

1. Clinic Overview and Operational Philosophy

1.1 Clinic Basic Information and Location

Younme Clinic Hongdae is located at 14th Floor, Sangjin Building, 165 Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Taking advantage of its geographical proximity to Hongik University Station, it secures a wide range of customers from their 20s to 50s and operates evening clinics on weekdays (until 21:00 on Fridays) to improve accessibility for office workers.

  • Medical Departments: Dermatology, Plastic Surgery (Botox, Fillers, Lifting, Hair Removal, Skin Care, etc.)
  • Clinic Hours:
    • Mon/Tue/Thu: 11:00 ~ 20:00
    • Wed: 14:00 ~ 21:00 (Focus on afternoon treatment)
    • Fri: 11:00 ~ 21:00 (Night clinic)
    • Sat: 10:30 ~ 16:30 (No lunch break)

1.2 Medical Philosophy: Naturalness and Safety

The core slogan of Younme Clinic Hongdae is "Directly developing procedures from the customer's eye level to aim for natural procedure results tailored to individual characteristics." This aims to preserve the original lines and balance rather than unconditional change.

  • Safety and Hygiene: The clinic adheres to principles of thorough sterilization and the use of genuine products in correct quantities, putting this forward as a key promise.
  • Research-Oriented: Procedure methods are improved through continuous exchange among medical staff, which is connected to the background of Director Ko Sung-kyun's direct participation in the development of various procedures (Bebe-fill, Ssok Injection, etc.).

2. In-depth Analysis of Representative Director Ko Sung-kyun

Representative Director Ko Sung-kyun is a figure with a very unusual career in the domestic aesthetic medical field. His background is summarized by the combination of two conflicting realms: a former high-ranking military general and an aesthetic medical expert.

2.1 Military Career: Leadership and Discipline

Director Ko Sung-kyun is a graduate of the 38th class of the Korea Military Academy (KMA) and retired as a Major General of the Republic of Korea Army. His military career was an elite course, passing through key positions beyond simple service.

  • Key Positions:
    • Commander, 31st Infantry Division (2010.12 ~ 2012.11)
    • Commander, Army Training Center (2013.4 ~ 2013.6)
    • Superintendent, Korea Military Academy (2013.6 ~ 2014.4)
    • Director of Education and Training, Army Training Command
  • Education: Graduated from Gangneung High School, Bachelor's in War History from KMA, Master's in Business Administration (Personnel Management) from Kyung Hee University, and Ph.D. in Business Administration from Gwangju University.
  • Characteristics: He was known as an expert in the 'Personnel' field since his military days and is known to have a rational and realistic way of thinking.

2.2 Aesthetic Medical Career: Second Life

After discharging from the military, Director Ko Sung-kyun entered the field of aesthetic medicine and built new expertise.

  • Career Transition: He started aesthetic procedures around 2010, when mesotherapy and skin botox were trending, and learned various techniques such as lasers, liposuction, and fat grafting.
  • Clinic Operation: He served as the director of Gangnam Younme Clinic, opened Gangseo Younme Clinic, and currently serves as the Representative Director of Hongdae Younme Clinic.
  • Procedure Development: He shows the aspect of a developer rather than a simple practitioner. He played a leading role in directly developing or establishing protocols for the clinic's signature procedures such as Bebe-fill, Younme Hi-Ko, 3D Hi-Ko, Cavern Fill, and Ssok Injection.
  • External Activities: He operates the YouTube channel 'Hongdae Younme Ko Sung-kyun TV' to communicate with patients and is reaching out to the public by shedding the authoritative image through friendly content such as balance games.

3. Major Procedures and Technical Characteristics

Younme Clinic Hongdae possesses procedures with proprietary naming and formulations in addition to general petit plastic surgery.

3.1 Thread Lifting

One of the strongest competitive edges of this clinic is thread lifting. It proved its expertise by winning the 'Korea Brand Satisfaction Index 1st Place' in the thread lifting category in 2022 and 2024.

  • Diverse Lineup: The clinic is equipped with various types of threads such as Mint, Silhouette Soft, Cavern (Jamber), Wonder Lift, and Omega to provide customized procedures.
  • Cavern Thread Lifting: It shows strength in procedures that induce volume formation in sunken areas (sunken under-eyes, nasolabial folds, etc.) and collagen production simultaneously using spring-shaped melting threads.
  • Mid-face Lifting: Active implementation of combined procedures utilizing fillers and thread lifting (Wonder Lift, etc.) to simultaneously resolve front cheek hollowness and sagging.

3.2 Bebe-fill

Younme Clinic's proprietary filler program, a hybrid procedure combining skin regeneration effects beyond simple volume enhancement.

  • Composition (5-in-1): Uses a complex combination of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Filler + Autologous Blood Growth Factors (PRP) + Salmon Injection (PDRN) + Botox + Autologous Blood Regeneration Ampoule.
  • Principle: While filling physical volume with filler, growth factors and PDRN stimulate collagen production inside the skin, and Botox alleviates wrinkles to extend the duration of the procedure and promote natural results.
  • Procedure Method: Instead of premixing the ingredients, a 'multi-layer injection technique' is used to inject each ingredient separately to maximize the effect of each drug.

3.3 Ssok Injection

A fat-dissolving injection developed to supplement the shortcomings of existing contouring injections.

  • Ingredient Characteristics: Manufactured based on natural drug ingredients, excluding Steroids and PPC components. This is to minimize concerns about side effects such as abnormal bleeding, cheek indentations, and skin atrophy.
  • Mechanism of Action: It works by increasing the activity of Lipase, a fat-decomposing enzyme, to break down triglycerides within fat cells and discharge them out of the body.
  • Application Areas: Used not only for unnecessary fat on the face such as double chin, buccal fat, and cheekbones but also for body line correction.

4. Reputation and Customer Reaction Analysis

4.1 Quantitative Evaluation

  • Gangnam Unni Rating: 9.4/10 (approx. 1,878 reviews)
  • Director Ko Sung-kyun Individual Rating: 9.5/10 (1,002 reviews)
  • Naver/Modoodoc Rating: 8.9/10 based on Modoodoc (based on verified reviews)

These figures show that the clinic maintains a satisfaction level in the upper tier within the region. In particular, trust in the representative director tends to be slightly higher than the overall clinic rating.

4.2 Qualitative Evaluation (Review Analysis)

Positive Factors:

  • Natural Results: The prevailing opinion is that it is "not excessive" and "captures natural lines."
  • Friendly Consultation: There are many evaluations that Director Ko Sung-kyun's consultation is meticulous and not authoritative. The appearance of getting along informally with staff in YouTube videos has also created a friendly image.
  • Pain Management: Opinions exist that the fear of procedures is low as pain minimization options such as sleep anesthesia are well-equipped.

Negative/Improvement Factors:

  • Waiting Time: Due to the nature of a popular clinic, wait times are mentioned as occurring.
  • Role of Counseling Managers: As the director jokingly mentioned in a YouTube video that "the managers nag a lot," the role of counseling managers appears to be large and active. While this can be accepted as meticulous management, there is a possibility it may be felt as sales pressure by some customers.

5. Conclusion and Implications

Younme Clinic Hongdae and Representative Director Ko Sung-kyun have taken a unique positioning combining 'Disciplined Safety' and 'Trendy Aesthetic Procedures'.

1. Building Trust

Director Ko Sung-kyun's background as an Army Major General and KMA Superintendent acts as a powerful trust mechanism for 'principle adherence' and 'safety' in the aesthetic medical market, which is sensitive to medical accidents or side effects.

2. Technical Differentiation

The strategy of not just using ready-made products but developing and branding proprietary complex procedure protocols like 'Bebe-fill' and 'Ssok Injection' is a key factor enhancing the clinic's competitiveness.

3. Communication Strategy

Successfully transforming the authoritative image of a former general into a friendly 'neighborhood doctor' image through YouTube and SNS works effectively in the Hongdae commercial area, where the 2030 generation is the mainstay.

In summary, Younme Clinic Hongdae is analyzed as a suitable choice for consumers seeking safe and natural beauty, based on verified thread lifting technical prowess and proprietary petit plastic surgery solutions.