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Interview with Kim Kyunghwan, CEO of Dailychai, Developer of Antibacterial Function Enhanced Filter Showerhead

The Dailychai multi-filter showerhead features a segment filter in the handle and a 5-layer ACF filter in the head, which work to remove chlorine and impurities from tap water. Photo by Dailychai

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] Recently, a research team led by Professor Karsten Prasse of Environmental Health at Johns Hopkins University announced findings that using chlorine during tap water disinfection produces a large amount of toxic byproducts that can cause cancer. The chlorine disinfection method, which prevents waterborne infectious diseases such as typhoid and cholera, unintentionally creates highly toxic byproducts. Although strict standards for drinking water have become routine since the red tap water incident a few years ago, concerns about water used for washing have not been deeply considered. Kim Kyunghwan, CEO of Dailychai, introduced that he embarked on developing a shower filter to protect skin health from chlorine components in tap water.

Residual chlorine in tap water can cause or worsen atopic dermatitis in children with sensitive skin. It also negatively affects skin conditions such as acne and hair loss. CEO Kim explained, “Although the chlorine content in tap water is a small amount of 4 mg/L, it causes dryness and worsens skin troubles when it comes into contact with the skin.”

To remove chlorine from washing water, CEO Kim collaborated with Gusan High-Tech, which has researched water purifier filters for 40 years, to develop the ‘Multi-Filter Showerhead.’ The ACF (Activated Carbon Filter) is a patented technology owned by Gusan that rolls fiber fabric carbon together with the water purifier filter to maximize the surface area exposed to water. The large surface area and lightweight five-layer carbon filter inside the showerhead maximize filtering performance and make usage more convenient.

The appearance of the filter immediately after manufacturing, which goes into the showerhead. Carbon fiber material is rolled together with nonwoven fabric, providing a five-layer filter effect. Photo by Heeyoon Kim

The front panel of the Multi-Filter Showerhead’s head unit is manufactured by Jungwon Electric, well known for semiconductor etching (metal processing) technology. CEO Kim, who once led a successful marketing company, discovered new potential in filter showerheads after encountering them due to his child’s struggle with atopic dermatitis. He said, “Each component of the showerhead is a culmination of manufacturing technology. To create a better product, I sought high-tech parts, understood consumer needs, and confirmed market sustainability, then proceeded with direct development and production.”

The replaceable vitamin filter inside the showerhead includes a special fragrance. High-end perfume or candle scents preferred by consumers were added to increase consumer preference. The vitamin material, which has high skin moisturizing effects, reflects the experience of the CEO of the vitamin filter development company who suffered from psoriasis.

To achieve a transparent exterior that shows the filter, CEO Kim repeated the injection molding process multiple times. He explained, “The segment filter in the handle part filters impurities first, and the ACF and vitamin filters in the head part remove chlorine and provide vitamin C in a second step, all visible at a glance.” The showerhead was designed so that after about a 60-day replacement cycle, the color of the filtered impurities inside the shower filter can be immediately seen with the naked eye.

After launching the Multi-Filter Showerhead and conducting funding for promotion, an unexpected phone call came. CEO Kim said, “A mother living in Jeonju called, saying her daughter was battling leukemia and was sensitive to infections, so she was using a US-made medical showerhead. Although it was expensive and had a lifespan of only one month, she contacted us after seeing our product specifications, asking if she could receive it a bit sooner.”

After receiving the call, CEO Kim said he set a goal to develop a medical-use showerhead. He said, “I explained that our product is not yet medically approved and that the antibacterial level might not meet expectations, but she said it was okay and wanted to try it, so we sent it to her and received a satisfactory response after use.” He added, “We are preparing to launch a showerhead equipped with a medical membrane filter to help patients with severe illnesses.”

Regarding future plans, CEO Kim stated, “I hope interest in washing water will increase as much as interest in drinking water. Based on the expandability of the filter showerhead, our goal is to create a subscription model and supply products at stable prices through a small-scale, specialized platform.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.