We had a chance to interview one of the best-paid pro designers BEKE (K.Tleubek) at the “SOONSIKI” salon in Seoul, South Korea. This salon boasts with high-end clientele such as models and screen actors and actresses, who only wish to be served by BEKE.
I CAN SURVIVE ANYWHERE BEING HAIRDRESSER
Seems like I have visited you during rush hour. Is it this busy everyday?
Indeed, I rarely have a free minute. Just now I finished styling Chinese Model. It is very interesting to meet Mongolian after 11 years I have spent here. First I came here when I was only 18. Our salon is one of the biggest ones in the area. Our history started in small town of Ansan, where our director and I opened up our first salon. In 2008 we managed to move to Seoul downtown and we are at works to open up a branch in Kangnam district soon, as this is considered as the most posh district in Seoul.
How did you end up living and working here?
My mother married Korean citizen and she has been living here for over 20 years. Our family members all have Korean citizenship, while I am the only with permanent visa. When I first came to Korea I decided I needed to have skills to be able to survive everywhere. My mother suggested me to become hairstylist. Our director is one of the best stylists in Korea. It has been already 11 years since I first met him. I started as any other apprentices with swiping the floors and learning every tidbits of this business. Come to think of it, I am proud of myself that I can survive everywhere once I have scissors in my hands.
I HAD DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD
What had led you to the top of your career? I feel proud that a Mongolian could make such a breakthrough in such a competitive market and in totally different country.
I had difficult childhood and our household was very poor. After moving here I said to myself that only hard work would save me. Of course not everything was smooth here too. But compared to my childhood years it was much better. I always encouraged myself that I have to overcome this bit every time I would feel discouraged. I guess this helped me to go through and come to the place I am now at.
You said your childhood was difficult.
I was always bullied as a kid, just because of my ethnicity. Every one would call me Kazakh or Khasag. At one point of time I regretted that I was born in Kazakh family. In Kazakhstan I would also be bullied and called Mongol. It seemed to me at that time I had no identity. I had fear that it might happen in Korea as well, but my surprise I found myself comfortable having many foreign friends. That changed my mind a lot. I am a Mongolian national with a Mongolian citizenship.
iT IS NOT EASY TO BE RECOGNIZED HERE
Seoul is a very big metropolitan. I guess the competition in such a big city is huge as well?
Yes, competition is very fierce here and it requires a lot of effort and most common jobs in Seoul are taxi driver, at hair salon and shops. There are so many hair salons around as anyone can open up a small shop anytime. Therefore one just has to have perfect skills.
Hairdressers have ranks to define their skills. What is your rank?
I have rank of pro-designer, which means no one can tell me how to do hair or do the cut. This is the highest rank a hairdresser can achieve. Here this rank is based on the client base. If one has many clients his or her rank will increase. I am being promoted next month, because I have maintained my clientele at the highest.
JAY PARK IS ONE OF MY FAMOUS CUSTOMERS
If the ranking is based on the client base, how many clients do you serve per day in average?
I prefer to pay as much attention as I can give for customer as every one is paying for a good service. Some of fellow Mongolians would ask if it takes like 10 minutes or so. My principle is quality over quantity, therefore I dedicate exactly 1 hour for each client. So basically I would have around 180-220 clients during one month. In Korea some best hairdressers have around 300-400 clients in a month. Usually master hairdressers have 2-3 apprentices, so do I. At busy times I will just do the cut and leave the rest to the apprentices. If one can maintain the client base at over 200 for three consecutive months one is to be promoted in ranking.
I guess you have many permanent clients?
There are some very loyal customers who come to me for over 7-8 years now.
If it is not secret, can introduce some of your customers?
One of them is Jay Park; he comes once in two weeks. There are many other Korean celebrities as well. Majority of my customers are male celebrities and boy bands. We have service contracts with most of them for 500,000 won per month. Therefore, my schedule is full every day.
MALE HAIRCUT RATE IS 30,000 WON, FEMALE IS 35,000 WON
Atmosphere in your salon is very positive and one can surely feel invited here. Also it seems like you respect your customers a lot and this is obvious from your outfit and overall image.
Our hairdressers pay attention on their style and image. I too lately started paying more attention to my outfit as well. This is one of the important features in the service industry, because there were many who wanted to take a picture with me. So this requires from me to be looking good. We also take our time with the client by being attentive and caring.
Have you been to Mongolia recently?
It’s been a while since I went last time in 2006. I plan to go to Mongolia next winter.
What do you usually do at your free time? Have you been thinking of family yet?
Most of my friends are now married. As for me, my work keeps me very busy; at some times I even forget to eat and would only realize it at the end of the day. Also I think that it is better to work hard while I am young.
SOMETIMES I GET FRUSTRATED TO SAY I AM MONGOLIAN, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY CRIMINAL CASES ASSOCIATED WITH MONGOLIANS HERE
Do you have Mongolian customers?
Only at times. With my promotion, my rates for haircuts were increased, that might have become the reason for Mongolians to come less. That’s why some of Mongolians would complain to me. They would say things like why there is no discount, we are all Mongolians and etc. If I had my own salon I would happily give Mongolians discounts, but I have no rights here.
What is your average salary?
Compared to the average salary here, it is much better.
Do you customers know that you are Mongolian?
Yes, they do. I have worked for many years and almost everyone knows I am Mongolian. At first I liked to say that was Mongolian, but lately I get frustrated to say so. Because there are many criminal cases associated with the Mongolians here.
What are the good sides of Korea that you would definitely take up?
Korean people are very hard working and they have enormous respect towards each other. Also Korean people have that drive in them to see the end of what they have started.
Have you ever considered working in Mongolia?
Indeed, I am thinking of going back and work in Mongolia, but before that I definitely need to learn more.
We had a chance to interview one of the best-paid pro designers BEKE (K.Tleubek) at the “SOONSIKI” salon in Seoul, South Korea. This salon boasts with high-end clientele such as models and screen actors and actresses, who only wish to be served by BEKE.
I CAN SURVIVE ANYWHERE BEING HAIRDRESSER
Seems like I have visited you during rush hour. Is it this busy everyday?
Indeed, I rarely have a free minute. Just now I finished styling Chinese Model. It is very interesting to meet Mongolian after 11 years I have spent here. First I came here when I was only 18. Our salon is one of the biggest ones in the area. Our history started in small town of Ansan, where our director and I opened up our first salon. In 2008 we managed to move to Seoul downtown and we are at works to open up a branch in Kangnam district soon, as this is considered as the most posh district in Seoul.
How did you end up living and working here?
My mother married Korean citizen and she has been living here for over 20 years. Our family members all have Korean citizenship, while I am the only with permanent visa. When I first came to Korea I decided I needed to have skills to be able to survive everywhere. My mother suggested me to become hairstylist. Our director is one of the best stylists in Korea. It has been already 11 years since I first met him. I started as any other apprentices with swiping the floors and learning every tidbits of this business. Come to think of it, I am proud of myself that I can survive everywhere once I have scissors in my hands.
I HAD DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD
What had led you to the top of your career? I feel proud that a Mongolian could make such a breakthrough in such a competitive market and in totally different country.
I had difficult childhood and our household was very poor. After moving here I said to myself that only hard work would save me. Of course not everything was smooth here too. But compared to my childhood years it was much better. I always encouraged myself that I have to overcome this bit every time I would feel discouraged. I guess this helped me to go through and come to the place I am now at.
You said your childhood was difficult.
I was always bullied as a kid, just because of my ethnicity. Every one would call me Kazakh or Khasag. At one point of time I regretted that I was born in Kazakh family. In Kazakhstan I would also be bullied and called Mongol. It seemed to me at that time I had no identity. I had fear that it might happen in Korea as well, but my surprise I found myself comfortable having many foreign friends. That changed my mind a lot. I am a Mongolian national with a Mongolian citizenship.
iT IS NOT EASY TO BE RECOGNIZED HERE
Seoul is a very big metropolitan. I guess the competition in such a big city is huge as well?
Yes, competition is very fierce here and it requires a lot of effort and most common jobs in Seoul are taxi driver, at hair salon and shops. There are so many hair salons around as anyone can open up a small shop anytime. Therefore one just has to have perfect skills.
Hairdressers have ranks to define their skills. What is your rank?
I have rank of pro-designer, which means no one can tell me how to do hair or do the cut. This is the highest rank a hairdresser can achieve. Here this rank is based on the client base. If one has many clients his or her rank will increase. I am being promoted next month, because I have maintained my clientele at the highest.
JAY PARK IS ONE OF MY FAMOUS CUSTOMERS
If the ranking is based on the client base, how many clients do you serve per day in average?
I prefer to pay as much attention as I can give for customer as every one is paying for a good service. Some of fellow Mongolians would ask if it takes like 10 minutes or so. My principle is quality over quantity, therefore I dedicate exactly 1 hour for each client. So basically I would have around 180-220 clients during one month. In Korea some best hairdressers have around 300-400 clients in a month. Usually master hairdressers have 2-3 apprentices, so do I. At busy times I will just do the cut and leave the rest to the apprentices. If one can maintain the client base at over 200 for three consecutive months one is to be promoted in ranking.
I guess you have many permanent clients?
There are some very loyal customers who come to me for over 7-8 years now.
If it is not secret, can introduce some of your customers?
One of them is Jay Park; he comes once in two weeks. There are many other Korean celebrities as well. Majority of my customers are male celebrities and boy bands. We have service contracts with most of them for 500,000 won per month. Therefore, my schedule is full every day.
MALE HAIRCUT RATE IS 30,000 WON, FEMALE IS 35,000 WON
Atmosphere in your salon is very positive and one can surely feel invited here. Also it seems like you respect your customers a lot and this is obvious from your outfit and overall image.
Our hairdressers pay attention on their style and image. I too lately started paying more attention to my outfit as well. This is one of the important features in the service industry, because there were many who wanted to take a picture with me. So this requires from me to be looking good. We also take our time with the client by being attentive and caring.
Have you been to Mongolia recently?
It’s been a while since I went last time in 2006. I plan to go to Mongolia next winter.
What do you usually do at your free time? Have you been thinking of family yet?
Most of my friends are now married. As for me, my work keeps me very busy; at some times I even forget to eat and would only realize it at the end of the day. Also I think that it is better to work hard while I am young.
SOMETIMES I GET FRUSTRATED TO SAY I AM MONGOLIAN, BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY CRIMINAL CASES ASSOCIATED WITH MONGOLIANS HERE
Do you have Mongolian customers?
Only at times. With my promotion, my rates for haircuts were increased, that might have become the reason for Mongolians to come less. That’s why some of Mongolians would complain to me. They would say things like why there is no discount, we are all Mongolians and etc. If I had my own salon I would happily give Mongolians discounts, but I have no rights here.
What is your average salary?
Compared to the average salary here, it is much better.
Do you customers know that you are Mongolian?
Yes, they do. I have worked for many years and almost everyone knows I am Mongolian. At first I liked to say that was Mongolian, but lately I get frustrated to say so. Because there are many criminal cases associated with the Mongolians here.
What are the good sides of Korea that you would definitely take up?
Korean people are very hard working and they have enormous respect towards each other. Also Korean people have that drive in them to see the end of what they have started.
Have you ever considered working in Mongolia?
Indeed, I am thinking of going back and work in Mongolia, but before that I definitely need to learn more.