The Chosun Ilbo reports that the Korea Tourism Organization has selected make-up artist Ikko as an honorary goodwill ambassador:

Ikko is a versatile entertainer whose professional pursuits range from makeup and hair to singing and presenting. Whatever he mentions becomes a bestseller the next day. So influential is he in the Japanese fashion and beauty industry that the term “Ikko effect” has been coined. After he introduced Korea’s blemish balm on a talk show, Japanese tourists in Korea bought over 3,000 tubes of the cream a day.

He is interested in Korean style of beauty and even published a book last year. “Korean women have better skin than Japanese women. I want to introduce the lifestyle of Korean women, who constantly detox their bodies and minds, to Japan,” he said.

You can see Ikko’s impressive makeover skills at work in this previous Japan Probe post.

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