Jang Myung Sook (Courtesy @ Korean Cultural Institute)
Jang Myung Sook is one of South Korea’s best-known influencers. You have worked extensively in Italy as a fashion expert. With the bestselling book Versace dresses at the sea, Armani dresses in the city made Made in Italy known in Asia.
He has almost a million followers on You Tube with the nickname “Milanonna”, a cross between Milan and “grandmother”. His case wouldn’t be so unique if it weren’t also for his age: he’s 68. And it is loved by young people, and not just Koreans.
The Korean influencer with nearly a million followers
«It all started because a friendly journalist asked me a video commentary for fashion, which she then posted on You Tube and in just one day there were 10 thousand subscribers. I didn’t know anything about social media then. I accepted because I was asked for a favor and I wanted to help young people, ”he says Jang Myung Sook whom we interview at the Korean Cultural Institute in Rome.
In 2001 she was appointed Knight of labor by the then president Ciampi. He also worked as an assistant costume designer at the Teatro La Scala in Milan and in 1988 at the Seoul Olympics brought La Scala representatives to Korea. “I have studied fashion at Marangoni in Milan, then I returned to Korea to be a stylist and teach at university until a Korean department store asked me to become a consultant to buy the big Italian fashion brands, “she says.
“Me, an influencer by chance”
Successful Influencer at 70: What’s the Secret?
I think it is related to the fact that I show the image of an independent woman. Many subscribers, many followers see me as a “role model” and many young people write to me every day. They also ask me for a lot of interviews, but at my age I prefer freedom. I used to post once a week, now twice a month, because you have to remember that I never wanted to be an influencer.
Milanonna, her You Tube account has 920,500,000 followers.
To think that I became a youtuber by chance! Among other things, I have twice won the influencer award of the Influencer Association that we have in Korea and also Youtube has rewarded me for the contents. When I was young, my parents wanted me to be a good housewife. But having studied, I always refused this role and launched into the world of fashion. But it wasn’t easy, I had small children and my husband was turning up his nose.
Korean influencer with nearly 1 million followers
The name is a witty crasis between Milan and grandmother.
I am not your typical Korean woman or grandmother. I invented my life, and I have now become a point of reference for young people. There are those who even describe me as a “generation Z idol” because I am very independent. I keep repeating: “Young people, you are the protagonists of your life!”. Of course, the duty comes first, then the pleasure. Even when they ask me for advice on clothes, I always answer “wear what you like best”, this is the most important thing.
Jang Myung Sook (Courtesy @ Korean Cultural Institute)
Wrote a bestseller: Versace dresses up by the sea, Armani dresses in the city.
I loved Armani very much, for many years I only dressed Armani, for her style as a business woman. For the evening I prefer Versace instead. Today the dress can express our identity, from the dress we understand many things. The quality of Italian designers is always at the top, Italians know how to live well and appreciate life.
Are you affected by age-related prejudice?
And how! Maybe that’s why young people appreciate me: I don’t dye my hair, I accept my age and I’ve always loved my life. Milanonna makes the concept of “old” disappear as something negative. Beauty is there even at a “certain age”.
An advice to women who live badly the entrance in the door?
We have to go through this period, so it’s best to accept and have fun, enjoy every moment of life to the fullest, and face everything that happens to us with courage. I always tell myself: one day we must disappear!
iO Donna © REPRODUCTION RESERVED