I’m writing this letter with a heavy heart and with a sincere apology to those of you who waited, trusted us, and were let down. Over the past few years, many of you experienced delayed boxes, poor communication, or missing orders. I want to sincerely apologize. But more than that, I want to be transparent with you about what really happened and what I’m doing now to make things right.

In 2019–2021, our team shrank from 14 to just 5. My co-founders, Jo and David, stepped away as the stress of running the business became too overwhelming. I stayed behind, determined to keep the Daebak brand and community alive. But the pandemic hit us hard. Shipping costs soared globally, and as a subscription service, I couldn’t ask customers who had already prepaid to pay more. So I covered the difference — personally borrowing over 300 million KRW (~$230,000 USD) to keep your orders moving.

Despite those efforts, the problems didn’t go away. Shipping remained expensive, operations struggled, and service quality fell. I felt like I was failing and I was.

In 2023, I officially entered Korea’s debt relief program. I was declared financially insolvent and battled the mental toll of carrying this burden alone. There were moments I wanted to give up on everything — the business, the dream, even myself.

Today, in 2025, all former team members have moved on. I now work alone in Korea, supported only by two main teammates in the Philippines. I’ve started over, applying for government support and exploring ways to revive Daebak and the community we built together. And this time, I’m doing it with honesty and accountability.

If you're still waiting for a box or a refund - I haven’t forgotten. I want to be clear: I currently don’t have the money to fulfill every order right away. That’s why I’m launching new projects and boxes, not for growth, but to take responsibility.  Every bit of profit will go toward making things right, step by step. I’m also working with Korean companies to offer special benefits, discounts, and cultural experiences for those who supported us — because you deserve more than just an apology. You deserve action.

This isn’t just a business to me. It’s a promise I made to you. And I will do everything I can to keep it.

Sincerely,
Hyunwoo Cho
Founder