Actor-entrepreneur Koo Hye-sun launches 450,000-won handmade faux-leather fountain pen

Actor and entrepreneur Koo Hye-sun has released a handmade fountain pen priced at 450,000 won ($318).

On Tuesday, Koo posted on her Instagram: "I have made a handmade fountain pen. As it falls on the higher end of the price range, I hope people will view it as a work of art and also put it to use." She also uploaded product photos and a link to the purchase page.

According to the product listing, the fountain pen is made from faux leather and retails for 450,000 won.

Koo's entrepreneurial ventures began with "Kuroll," a circular hair roller brand. She developed the product herself and secured a patent for it, selling individual rollers for 13,000 won and two-piece sets for 25,000 won.

When the pricing drew criticism, Koo defended the product, saying it had eliminated more than 80 percent of the plastic found in conventional round hair rollers and was durable enough for permanent use.

She added that the initial production run was small, which drove up unit costs, but said she planned to gradually offer discount events so consumers would not feel burdened by the price.

Appearing on MBN's "Kim Joo-ha's Day and Night" on July 18, Koo acknowledged that her products were on the expensive side, explaining that factory-scale mass production was difficult and that most items were made by hand.

Meanwhile, Koo is also active as a film director, author and painter.