GINA PARK. PHOTO BY JUNHYUP KWON.
“We have an alternative way [of testing] that avoids sacrificing animals. If we can do that, why not? I see this (vegan friendly step) as a necessity,” she said. “To me, sustainability is something like the spirit of the times. I believe that not caring is backwards, and holds back businesses from growing.”
GINA PARK. PHOTO BY JUNHYUP KWON.
Taking a stance doesn’t come easy. Making cruelty-free condoms for example, is unusual and expensive. “It’s very difficult,” she said. “We have needed to jump over numerous hurdles. It’s time-consuming and costly. We are required to do more research and figure out alternative ways to test our products.”The same goes for their views on LGBTQ communities, especially in a traditional and patriarchal society like South Korea. “We receive emails from our fans. They write that they are happy with our products but question why we have to support gay people,” she said. Instinctus was a main sponsor of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival which has gotten backlash from conservative clients.Park however, is unfazed.“It matters to be successful in business but also in the long term,” she said. “I believe that this is the right direction and I have to stand by the right side of history.”This article originally appeared on VICE Korea.“The strong have the responsibility of trying to do something for the weak,” Park said, in explaining the company’s values. This, she said, is the commonality in their promotion of veganism and their defense of sexual minorities.
