While growing up, Jheen Oh’s parents always prioritized health, especially his father. “He was always into the latest health trends and products and natural remedies,” he says. With that health‑conscious mindset already in place, Oh had a breakthrough idea while working for a startup in 2017.
Jheen Oh standing in front of his product, Susosu Water. Photo courtesy of Jheen Oh.
“I realized that a lot of these major water brands are really just made from purified water, which now people are starting to realize it’s just another word for manufactured tap water, which doesn’t provide you the hydration nor the health benefits that you think it does,” he says. With the help of his father, he launched Susosu Water, the only naturally sourced mineral water from a 600-foot underground source in South Korea, infused with extra hydrogen for a much healthier hydration.
Before enrolling at the Costello College of Business at George Mason University, Oh was often told by his parents that he was destined to work in business. “It wasn’t until getting to George Mason that it really clicked and activated my passion for business, with aspects like building relationships, networking with the right people, and hustling,” he says. Those connections helped him land a position at his first startup and helped him discover the kind of work that he was passionate about.
“It wasn’t until getting to George Mason that it really clicked and activated my passion for business, with aspects like building relationships, networking with the right people, and hustling.”
— Jheen Oh
The COVID-19 pandemic became a major turning point for Oh and Susosu Water, presenting both challenges and opportunities. As consumers rapidly shifted to online shopping, Oh saw a growth of approximately 295 percent in revenue, prompting him and his business partner to quit their fulltime jobs and focus on Susosu. When issues with their Amazon storefront temporarily halted their momentum, they were forced to pivot.
“We had to figure something out, and it was from a simple Google search when we realized that we had to start getting into the wholesale part of our business and started developing that and partnered up with a local food and beverage accelerator program based out of Washington, D.C.,” he says. “We got our big break from Giant Foods, which is huge for us, especially in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area, and that’s when we actually got a partnership with UNFI, which is the largest natural and organic distributor.” At the same time, they were able to get their Amazon account restored, allowing Susosu Water to evolve into a business driven roughly 40 percent by e-commerce and 60 percent by wholesale. Susosu Water can be found in approximately 650 retail stores, including the Giant in Fairfax’s University Mall, with growth continuing to accelerate.
Jheen Oh reiterates the importance for Costello students to take advantage of their networks, connecting with their classmates, faculty members, alumni, and community partners. “You’re paying to be around a lot of high-level people, and you just never know who’s going to contribute to your career post-graduation or even during school to set you up for what you want to do,” he says. “One of the core foundations of entrepreneurship is really networking and relationships.” Along with attending networking events, he encourages students to take as many internships as possible to gain experience, expand skillsets, and explore their passions. Through Handshake, he has hired numerous George Mason students as interns.
Additionally, Oh is excited to return to campus to mentor young entrepreneurs for the upcoming Patriot Pitch Competition, an experiential learning opportunity where students compete for prize funding to launch their business ventures.
As Susosu Water continues to grow, Oh hopes his path inspires Costello students to stay bold, stay connected, and pursue opportunities with the same drive and determination that transformed his vision into reality.