Our Founder’s Story
IMRO’s brand story begins with the inspirational journey of our
founder, who turned to the healing powers of Omega-3 following
treatment for a life-threatening illness.
The rejuvenating power of Perilla
15 years ago, Lim Soo-Bok, a successful South Korean entrepreneur, was diagnosed with lung cancer.
While being treated in Japan, his doctor recommended a post-treatment regimen of Omega-3
supplements derived from the Perilla plant to aid in his recovery. It worked, and Soo-Bok stuck with it.
Going far beyond his doctor’s advice
Fascinated with the healing properties of the Perilla plant and its potential to help others, he started cultivating it himself on 150 acres of family-owned farmland in the lush foothills of South Korea’s Jiri Mountain in Hadong, home to a centuries-old agricultural region famed for organically-grown wild green tea, known as the “King’s Tea”, which thrives in the same mineral-rich soil.
Soo-Bok’s innovative methods for growing and refining Perilla oil from the plant's seeds for its health benefits later led to him being recognized by the South Korean government as a pioneer in sustainable permaculture.
Soojung and the facial cleanser
One night, Soo-Bok’s daughter Soojung had run out of facial cleanser and decided to sneak some of her father's Perilla oil into her nightly routine to
treat acne-prone skin. It worked so well that she continued using it—without her father knowing.
After some time had passed, noticing the improvement in his daughter’s complexion, Soo-Bok asked her about the change. It was then that Soojung
confessed to using his Perilla oil.
Delighted with how well it worked, Soo-Bok then focused on developing an organic skincare range—based on the very same ingredients that aided his
recovery more than a decade before.
And your skin lived happily ever after
Respected scientific research has
in recent years shown what the
people of East Asia have known for centuries at the family dining table—
consuming the seeds and leaves of Perilla plants offers exceptional
health benefits.
Following Soojung’s serendipitous use of his Perilla oil for her face, Lim
Soo-Bok was introduced to Ralph Gusko, former President in Seoul of
the renowned, 112-year-old skin and body-care brand Nivea.
The pair went on to create an innovative line of all-natural skincare
products that would forever change the way people take care of their
skin around the world.
To learn more about which of our skincare lines is right for you, visit our
products page or drop us a line at
info@imro.co.kr.
