About us

Seoul Studio.

A place where skin health is prioritised over quick fixes.
Where every approach is intentional.
Where nothing feels invasive.

Seoul Studio is South Africa’s first dual-concept Korean beauty brand, pioneering a new category: Korean Clinical Skincare — merging medical-grade technology with modern aesthetic artistry.

Principles

Vision

To lead the Korean beauty movement in Africa through innovation, authenticity, and measurable results.

Mission

To merge K-beauty science with South African excellence, providing accessible, result-driven skincare and beauty services in a clinical yet luxurious environment.

Purpose

Our purpose is to bring the science and precision of Korean beauty to South Africa through authentic training, innovation, and results. We aim to redefine the beauty standard in South Africa through authenticity, innovation, and clinical excellence.

Founder

Hannah De Gouveia

Founder & CEO, Seoul Studio

A visionary entrepreneur blending creativity with strategic expertise. Presently, she holds the position of Head of Marketing and Business Development at Ener-Gi Fuel Corporation, a role she has maintained for two years, spearheading impactful campaigns and growth strategies across South Africa.

Hannah’s passion for skincare originates from her personal journey. Since 2020, she has contended with persistent acne and scarring, undergoing costly weekly skin treatments that only provided temporary relief. Despite visiting top clinics, missing even one session caused breakouts.

After years of frustration and escalating costs, she resolved to take control of her skincare journey. In December 2022, she commenced research into alternative approaches and discovered Korean skincare. By February 2023, after merely two months of utilizing K-beauty products, she observed a dramatic and lasting improvement in her skin. Since then, K-beauty has become her trusted approach, offering tangible and visible results where traditional treatments had failed.

This personal transformation led to the establishment of Seoul Studio. Hannah’s lived experience, combined with her business acumen and background in the beauty industry, endows her with a rare authenticity and insight that drives the brand’s mission: to make high-quality, effective Korean skincare accessible and transformative for others. Her leadership at Seoul Studio combines marketing precision with clinical innovation — redefining how South Africans experience skincare.

Co-Founder

Charlie-Anne Smith

Co-Founder & COO, Seoul Studio

Charlie brings a wealth of global experience to the brand. After moving to Sydney, Australia, she studied Aesthetics and spent four years immersed in the world of advanced skincare. During this time, she worked with renowned beauty institutions such as Sephora and several of Sydney’s leading skin clinics, gaining invaluable experience in modern aesthetic technology and medical-grade skincare treatments.

Her hands-on work with globally recognized brands equipped her with deep technical knowledge and an understanding of the highest industry standards.
Upon returning to South Africa, the country where she was born, Charlie-Anne quickly made her mark in the local beauty industry — becoming recognized as one of the top national aestheticians.

Her passion for innovation and excellence led her to partner with Hannah, whose vision to introduce the first Korean skin clinic in South Africa aligned perfectly with her own expertise and ambition. Together, they founded Seoul Studio, a brand built on the principles of advanced skincare technology, modern design, and Korean-inspired beauty philosophies.