65-year-old Kim Chil-doo became a sensation last year when he hit the catwalk for the first time at Seoul Fashion Week. He's now juggling a busy modeling career, one of a generation of seniors in South Korea picking up new skills in order to keep busy or make ends meet. Eve Johnson reports.
Meet South Korea's most famous silver fox.
Kim Chil-doo doesn't have flawless skin or a perfect pout.
But he made a huge splash when he hit the catwalk for the first time in March of last year, strutting his pink net top at Seoul Fashion Week with the effortless confidence of Tyra Banks.
Today he's a social media sensation, and is breaking the mold in a country where cosmetic surgery can seem as commonplace as haircuts.
It all started last year when the restaurant Kim ran for years went bust.
His daughter urged him to follow his lifelong dream, so he enrolled in modeling school.
65-YEAR-OLD SOUTH KOREAN PROFESSIONAL MODEL, KIM CHIL-DOO, SAYING:
"I believe I made the right choice. Modelling at this age is really fun. Senior? That's just a label."
South Korea has the world's fastest ageing population.
But nowadays, more and more seniors like Kim are refusing to slow down in their golden years and are venturing into unconventional careers.
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| A South Korean senior model Kim Chil-doo, 65-years-old, works on a commercial in Seoul, South Korea, June 17, 2019. Picture taken on June 17, 2019. Reuters |
65-YEAR-OLD SOUTH KOREAN PROFESSIONAL MODEL, KIM CHIL-DOO, SAYING:
"I think all people have some sort of special talent, no matter their age."
Kim is still booking plenty of jobs.
On top of the commercials and catwalks, he's also got a side hustle as a sort of lifestyle guru, appearing in Youtube videos to share advice on how to look and feel younger.
And he's inspired others to follow in his footsteps.
You Sung-lae is one of many seniors now working on their walk in modeling school.
STUDENT OF SENIOR MODELLING CLASS, YOU SUNG-LAE, SAYING:
"Nowadays, people can live for 100 years. There are a lot of things we can do."
As for Kim, he's not resting on his laurels.
Now that he's conquered Seoul he's got his eye on bigger catwalks in London, Milan and Paris. (Reuters)
