David Chung
Founder & CEO, The Rootist
Founder & Chairman,
Judith Ehm Foundation
EMBRACE UNITY AWARD
David C. Chung has two state-of-the-art beauty innovation and contract manufacturing centers, Innovation Labs, Inc. (iLABS), in New Jersey and South Korea offering cutting-edge R&D, quality manufacturing, and turnkey services for skin, body, and hair products. Chung, and his global team of talented chemists, scientists, and engineers breakthrough, innovative finished goods to create meaningful market share for established and independent brands. Chung formed Morae Packaging, a US packaging service company, with factories in South Korea that manufacture quality glass and plastic components to further deliver on turnkey services.
Chung established The Beauty Bank to incubate new-to-market beauty and wellness brands. He launched The Rootist – optimal hair wellness rooted in fermentation – with the patent-pending, award-winning Rootbiomic Ferment biotechnology.
With the growing demand for mental wellness solutions, Chung acquired Amare Global to bring vast expertise in innovation, brand-building, supply chain management, IT, and overall operational excellence. Amare leads with innovative and efficacious products that support the gut-brain axis (GBX) and a healthy microbiome to support mental wellness and a balanced lifestyle.
David Chung is a serial entrepreneur with over twenty-five years of experience in beauty and skincare R&D innovation, contract manufacturing, and premium brand building. Guided by the philosophy of “under promise and over deliver,” Chung has earned a reputation for developing companies with strong foundations.
Chung began his career in fashion and beauty distribution. At the age of 25, Chung opened his first business, Nova Imports, distributing luxury fashion such as Emilio Pucci. Venturing into cosmetics, Chung launched Mona’s in New Jersey and Cosmetic World (seven locations) in California.
Both cosmetic retailers were a precursor to current prestigious beauty and personal care retailers like Sephora and Ulta, which offered luxury skincare and cosmetic products, such as Christian Dior, La Prairie, and Estée Lauder. Inspired to create his own efficacious products, Chung launched 3LAB in 2003, a high-tech, award-winning skincare collection that quickly became a top-selling brand at Barneys New York.
Seeing the need for innovation in manufacturing, Chung established his first R&D facility, Englewood Lab, in New Jersey. Starting with one chemist and one kettle, Englewood Lab expanded to provide high-quality, cutting-edge skincare formulas and service over one hundred renowned brands with innovative, efficacious products. Chung took the company public on KOSDAQ; And sold his controlling interest to Cosmecca Korea.
Prompted again by his relentless need to innovate, Chung created FARMACY BEAUTY in 2015, a clean, farm-to-table concept skincare brand that launched in Sephora. It rapidly became a top seller, with Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm becoming the no. 1 cleanser for the foremost retailer. Chung sold FARMACY BEAUTY to Procter & Gamble in 2021.
Chung continues to be inspired by his mother, Judith Ehm Chung, a Korean immigrant who helped establish Koreatown in New York City through various esteemed Korean American businesses. In honor of her entrepreneurial and philanthropic spirit, Chung created the Judith Ehm Foundation to support public charities that help Korean Americans, Asian Americans, and the broader community with education, social services, and healthcare.
EMBRACE UNITY AWARD
David Chung
Founder & CEO, The Rootist
Founder & Chairman,
Judith Ehm Foundation
David C. Chung has two state-of-the-art beauty innovation and contract manufacturing centers, Innovation Labs, Inc. (iLABS), in New Jersey and South Korea offering cutting-edge R&D, quality manufacturing, and turnkey services for skin, body, and hair products. Chung, and his global team of talented chemists, scientists, and engineers breakthrough, innovative finished goods to create meaningful market share for established and independent brands. Chung formed Morae Packaging, a US packaging service company, with factories in South Korea that manufacture quality glass and plastic components to further deliver on turnkey services.
Chung established The Beauty Bank to incubate new-to-market beauty and wellness brands. He launched The Rootist – optimal hair wellness rooted in fermentation – with the patent-pending, award-winning Rootbiomic Ferment biotechnology.
With the growing demand for mental wellness solutions, Chung acquired Amare Global to bring vast expertise in innovation, brand-building, supply chain management, IT, and overall operational excellence. Amare leads with innovative and efficacious products that support the gut-brain axis (GBX) and a healthy microbiome to support mental wellness and a balanced lifestyle.
David Chung is a serial entrepreneur with over twenty-five years of experience in beauty and skincare R&D innovation, contract manufacturing, and premium brand building. Guided by the philosophy of “under promise and over deliver,” Chung has earned a reputation for developing companies with strong foundations.
Chung began his career in fashion and beauty distribution. At the age of 25, Chung opened his first business, Nova Imports, distributing luxury fashion such as Emilio Pucci. Venturing into cosmetics, Chung launched Mona’s in New Jersey and Cosmetic World (seven locations) in California.
Both cosmetic retailers were a precursor to current prestigious beauty and personal care retailers like Sephora and Ulta, which offered luxury skincare and cosmetic products, such as Christian Dior, La Prairie, and Estée Lauder. Inspired to create his own efficacious products, Chung launched 3LAB in 2003, a high-tech, award-winning skincare collection that quickly became a top-selling brand at Barneys New York.
Seeing the need for innovation in manufacturing, Chung established his first R&D facility, Englewood Lab, in New Jersey. Starting with one chemist and one kettle, Englewood Lab expanded to provide high-quality, cutting-edge skincare formulas and service over one hundred renowned brands with innovative, efficacious products. Chung took the company public on KOSDAQ; And sold his controlling interest to Cosmecca Korea.
Prompted again by his relentless need to innovate, Chung created FARMACY BEAUTY in 2015, a clean, farm-to-table concept skincare brand that launched in Sephora. It rapidly became a top seller, with Green Clean Makeup Meltaway Cleansing Balm becoming the no. 1 cleanser for the foremost retailer. Chung sold FARMACY BEAUTY to Procter & Gamble in 2021.
Chung continues to be inspired by his mother, Judith Ehm Chung, a Korean immigrant who helped establish Koreatown in New York City through various esteemed Korean American businesses. In honor of her entrepreneurial and philanthropic spirit, Chung created the Judith Ehm Foundation to support public charities that help Korean Americans, Asian Americans, and the broader community with education, social services, and healthcare.