Both of them were 12th generation descendants of Gu Seong-ro (구성로; 具成老), an officer who accompanied Yi Seong-gye during Wihwado Retreat.

As his businesses gradually expanded, in 1941 he made a sizeable contribution to the Korean provisional government in Shanghai through an independence fighter who visited him.

When Korea regained its independence, he started to focus on expanding his businesses by relocating to Busan and beginning to import charcoal.

Not long after, he decided to accept his younger brother Koo Jung-hwoi's advice and started a cosmetics manufacturing business.

It began selling a new face cream called Lucky, which quickly sold out despite its relatively high price thanks to its high-quality ingredients.

Within two months, he had to add additional manufacturing machines to meet explosive demand, and also started making new products like toothbrushes and washbowls.