K-Beauty Creates Another Legend... Cosmetic Exports Hit KRW 7.5 Trillion: The Unique Position of Korean Beauty Products in the Global Market
Korea's cosmetics industry has achieved another remarkable feat. In the first half of 2025, Korean cosmetic exports reached $5.51 billion (approximately KRW 7.5 trillion), marking a record high. This represents a 14.8% increase compared to the same period last year, proving once again the global popularity of K-Beauty. In this article, we will explore the background of this amazing achievement and future prospects.
Performance in the Global Market
This record-breaking export amount is attributed to the increase in exports to several countries. China remains the largest export market with $1.08 billion, but exports to Europe and the Middle East have significantly increased. Poland in Europe was included in the top 10 export countries for the first time, while the UK and France achieved exports of $100 million and $70 million, respectively. The total number of export countries increased from 172 last year to 176 this year. As such, Korean cosmetics are maintaining their existing major markets while steadily expanding into new regional markets. This is an indicator that K-Beauty is maturing into a sustainable global industry beyond a temporary trend.
Export Trends by Product
By product type, basic cosmetics accounted for the largest share, increasing 14.9% year-on-year to $4.11 billion. This was followed by color cosmetics at approximately $750 million, personal cleansing products at about $270 million, and haircare products at around $220 million. As a result, domestic cosmetic companies are strengthening their product lineups centered on basic and color products. They are precisely analyzing the preferences of consumers in each country to launch strategic regional products, and both the development of customized new products and differentiated marketing strategies are being carried out simultaneously. These product strategies are making major contributions to the continuous growth of Korean cosmetic brands in overseas markets and the expansion of global market share.
Preparation for Introducing Safety Evaluation System
To ensure the successful establishment of K-Beauty in the global market, an institutional foundation meeting international standards is essential. Recently, as new safety-related regulations are being implemented in key markets such as the United States and China, Korea is also preparing to introduce a domestic safety evaluation system in alignment. This system will play a role in enhancing product reliability while reducing non-tariff barriers during the export process. In particular, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is actively engaging in regulatory diplomacy by coordinating positions with major export countries.
"To facilitate the smooth entry of excellent domestic cosmetics into the global market, we plan to actively promote regulatory diplomacy with major export countries such as the U.S. and China," said the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.
In Conclusion
The current achievements of K-Beauty demonstrate its growth into a sustainable global industry beyond a simple trend. The regional diversification of export countries, strategic strengthening of product lines, and responsiveness to international regulations all contribute to enhancing the competitiveness of the Korean cosmetics industry. This growth trend will continue to support the positive development of the domestic cosmetics industry in the future.
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