Slain Korean businessman was 'well respected'

With about 250 stores in Philadelphia and the suburbs, the Korean beauty-supply business is among the largest commercial enterprises for Koreans in the Philadelphia area.

And Richard Chae was one of its most successful members.

Chae started one of the first shops, Penn Center Beauty Supply, and was a past president of the Pennsylvania Korean Beauty Supply Association.

"He was a great leader when he was president of the association a couple of years ago," said George Choi, who owns Penncrest Beauty Supply and is active in the association.

As president from 2005 to 2007, Chae more than tripled membership, from 20 to about 65, and began a program of awarding college scholarships to the sons and daughters of customers. This year, the association awarded 20 $500 scholarships.

"It's unbelievable," Choi said of his friend's death yesterday at the hands of robbers who bound him with duct tape and stabbed him to death at his Montgomery Township home. "I spoke to him [the day before]."

They discussed plans for an association party for 80 at a Korean restaurant in Jenkintown later in the month. Yesterday, Choi canceled the party.

"He was a very nice guy. He was well respected in the Korean business community in Philadelphia," he said of his friend.

Chae was one of the first Koreans to open a beauty-supply store in Philadelphia 15 years ago. He previously owned a cafe, PC's Restaurant, in the same location in Penn Center, but the work got to be too much for him.

"Food service was tiring for him," Choi said. "He wanted a business that didn't require as much energy."

But Chae still was at his store every day, sorting the abundance of products that make up the typical Korean beauty store.

"He's one of the originals," Choi said sadly. "He might even be the first. He had so much history and experience. That's why he was elected president. A lot of people respected him."