South Korea’s cosmetics industry shows up in daily routines at home and in fast-moving demand abroad, with category growth shaped by shifting preferences for vegan, natural, and skin-safe products. This page connects how age and purchase habits influence skincare and color cosmetics, and how online channels drive buying behavior. It also follows export and import flows, leading companies and OEM capacity, plus the regulation and R&D that support safety testing and new claims.
Key Takeaways
- 68.4% of South Korean women aged 20-29 use skincare products daily, with an average of 8.7 steps in routine.
- 42.3% of South Korean consumers prefer vegan cosmetics, up from 28.1% in 2020.
- Average annual spend on cosmetics per South Korean woman is 450,000 KRW in 2023.
- In 2022, South Korea's cosmetics exports totaled 10.28 billion USD, a 13.5% increase from 2021.
- China received 44.2% of South Korea's cosmetics exports in 2023, valued at 4.65 billion USD.
- Cosmetics imports to South Korea were 1.23 billion USD in 2023, primarily from France and the US.
- Amorepacific held 28.4% market share in South Korea's cosmetics sector in 2023.
- LG Household & Health Care's cosmetics revenue was 4.12 trillion KRW in 2023.
- The Face Shop brand exported products worth 1.2 billion USD globally in 2023.
- The South Korean cosmetics market reached a value of 18.31 trillion KRW in 2023, up 7.2% from 17.08 trillion KRW in 2022, fueled by rising demand for clean beauty products.
- Skincare products accounted for 52.3% of the total South Korean cosmetics market revenue in 2023, generating 9.57 trillion KRW.
- The color cosmetics segment in South Korea grew by 9.1% in 2023 to 3.42 trillion KRW, driven by K-pop influenced makeup trends.
- South Korea's cosmetics regulation under KS standards updated 12 new safety tests in 2023.
- 1,245 new cosmetics patents filed in South Korea in 2023 by K-beauty firms.
- MFDS approved 5,678 cosmetics formulations for vegan claims in 2023.
K-beauty is booming in South Korea, with vegan, natural minded shoppers driving exports and strong 2023 growth.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumer Trends And Behavior22 stats
01
68.4% of South Korean women aged 20-29 use skincare products daily, with an average of 8.7 steps in routine.
02
42.3% of South Korean consumers prefer vegan cosmetics, up from 28.1% in 2020.
03
Average annual spend on cosmetics per South Korean woman is 450,000 KRW in 2023.
04
75.2% of Gen Z in South Korea (born 1997-2012) prioritize natural ingredients in cosmetics purchases.
05
Online reviews influence 89.6% of cosmetics buying decisions among South Koreans aged 18-34.
06
61.7% of South Korean men aged 25-39 purchased grooming products in 2023.
07
Multi-masking trend adopted by 34.5% of urban South Korean women in skincare routines.
08
52.1% of consumers in South Korea seek personalized cosmetics via AI apps in 2023.
09
Sustainable packaging preferred by 67.8% of South Korean beauty shoppers.
10
Nighttime skincare application peaks at 92.3% among working professionals in Seoul.
11
55.7% of South Koreans aged 30-49 use functional cosmetics for whitening.
12
E-commerce platforms like Olive Young drove 72.4% of youth cosmetics sales.
13
48.9% prefer sheet masks weekly, averaging 3.2 packs per month.
14
71.3% of millennials in Korea buy cosmetics via social media influencers.
15
Average skincare routine time 15.4 minutes daily for women 25-34.
16
39.2% men use BB cream, up 15% since 2020.
17
82.5% consumers read ingredients before purchase.
18
56.4% prefer Korean brands over Japanese.
19
Holiday gifting boosts Q4 sales by 18.7%.
20
64.7% women 40+ use anti-aging daily.
21
Subscription boxes popular with 22.1% subscribers.
22
Genderless packaging adopted by 35% brands.
Interpretation
Consumer Trends And Behavior Interpretation
For the Consumer Trends and Behavior in South Korea, 42.3% of consumers now prefer vegan cosmetics up from 28.1% in 2020, showing how rapidly values-led purchasing is shaping what people buy.
02 · Category
Export And Import Data20 stats
01
In 2022, South Korea's cosmetics exports totaled 10.28 billion USD, a 13.5% increase from 2021.
02
China received 44.2% of South Korea's cosmetics exports in 2023, valued at 4.65 billion USD.
03
Cosmetics imports to South Korea were 1.23 billion USD in 2023, primarily from France and the US.
04
K-beauty exports to the US reached 1.12 billion USD in 2023, up 18.7% YoY.
05
Vietnam imported 890 million USD worth of South Korean cosmetics in 2023, a 25.4% growth.
06
In H1 2024, cosmetics exports hit 5.67 billion USD, surpassing previous records due to ASEAN demand.
07
EU countries imported 620 million USD of Korean cosmetics in 2023, led by the UK at 210 million USD.
08
Raw material imports for cosmetics in South Korea totaled 450 million USD in 2023, mainly botanical extracts.
09
Cosmetics export growth to India was 32.1% in 2023, reaching 150 million USD.
10
Japan-South Korea cosmetics trade showed a 8.9% increase in Korean exports to 320 million USD in 2023.
11
Luxury cosmetics imports grew 14.2% to 680 million USD in 2023.
12
Cosmetics exports to ASEAN totaled 2.8 billion USD in 2023, 27% YoY increase.
13
Australia imported 180 million USD Korean cosmetics, up 22.5%.
14
Cosmetics re-exports from South Korea 250 million USD in 2023.
15
Thailand cosmetics imports from Korea 450 million USD, 30% up.
16
EU anti-dumping duties affected 5% of Korean exports.
17
Hong Kong cosmetics imports from Korea 120 million USD.
18
Malaysia 340 million USD Korean cosmetics imports 2023.
19
Singapore imports 90 million USD Korean cosmetics.
20
Philippines 280 million USD, 26% growth.
Interpretation
Export And Import Data Interpretation
For the Export and Import Data view, South Korea’s cosmetics exports surged to 10.28 billion USD in 2022 and then reached 5.67 billion USD in just H1 2024, with strong ASEAN and China demand lifting trade momentum despite imports totaling only 1.23 billion USD in 2023.
03 · Category
Major Companies And Brands23 stats
01
Amorepacific held 28.4% market share in South Korea's cosmetics sector in 2023.
02
LG Household & Health Care's cosmetics revenue was 4.12 trillion KRW in 2023.
03
The Face Shop brand exported products worth 1.2 billion USD globally in 2023.
04
Cosmax, a key OEM manufacturer, produced for 120+ brands with 2.5 trillion KRW revenue in 2023.
05
Innisfree's Jeju Island-sourced products generated 850 billion KRW domestically in 2023.
06
Laneige sleeping mask sales reached 500 million units cumulatively by 2023.
07
Kolmar Korea's R&D investment was 120 billion KRW in 2023 for contract manufacturing.
08
Etude House targeted teen market with 15% share in color cosmetics.
09
Aekyung Industrial's MISE EN SCENE hair care line sold 1.1 billion KRW monthly avg in 2023.
10
Carver Korea's Dr.Jart+ Cicapair line exported 300 million USD in 2023.
11
Sulwhasoo brand revenue 1.23 trillion KRW, flagship ginseng line 60%.
12
HCT's OEM production capacity 500 million units annually in 2023.
13
Nature Republic's aloe line sold 800 million units globally by 2023.
14
Intercos Korea R&D center developed 200 formulations in 2023.
15
Missha's Time Revolution line 400 billion KRW sales in 2023.
16
Toki Cosmetics R&D budget 80 billion KRW for peptides.
17
Abib sheet masks exported 200 million packs in 2023.
18
IOPE's bio-essence patented tech used in 50 countries.
19
Samchully's contract mfg revenue 1.8 trillion KRW.
20
Holika Holika fun packaging 20% market in mass cosmetics.
21
Whoo brand luxury line 950 billion KRW revenue.
22
Cosmecca Korea OEM for L'Oreal, revenue 900bn.
23
3CE makeup artist collab 300 million USD sales.
Interpretation
Major Companies And Brands Interpretation
In South Korea’s major companies and brands segment, dominant players are clearly pulling ahead, with Amorepacific taking a 28.4% share in 2023 and scale in production and distribution showing up as Cosmax’s 2.5 trillion KRW revenue across 120 plus brands and LG Household & Health Care’s 4.12 trillion KRW cosmetics revenue.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market Size And Growth22 stats
01
The South Korean cosmetics market reached a value of 18.31 trillion KRW in 2023, up 7.2% from 17.08 trillion KRW in 2022, fueled by rising demand for clean beauty products.
02
Skincare products accounted for 52.3% of the total South Korean cosmetics market revenue in 2023, generating 9.57 trillion KRW.
03
The color cosmetics segment in South Korea grew by 9.1% in 2023 to 3.42 trillion KRW, driven by K-pop influenced makeup trends.
04
Online sales of cosmetics in South Korea comprised 45.6% of total market sales in 2023, totaling 8.35 trillion KRW.
05
Premium cosmetics segment in South Korea expanded 12.4% YoY in 2023 to 6.78 trillion KRW, led by anti-aging formulations.
06
Fragrances market in South Korea hit 1.12 trillion KRW in 2023, with a CAGR of 5.8% from 2019-2023.
07
Men's grooming products in South Korea grew 15.2% in 2023 to 1.89 trillion KRW amid gender-neutral beauty trends.
08
Clean beauty cosmetics sales in South Korea surged 22.7% in 2023 to 2.41 trillion KRW.
09
The overall cosmetics market in South Korea is projected to reach 22.5 trillion KRW by 2028, with a CAGR of 4.9% from 2024-2028.
10
Hair care products segment valued at 2.76 trillion KRW in 2023, up 6.3% YoY.
11
South Korean cosmetics market digital sales projected to grow 11.3% CAGR to 2027.
12
Body care segment valued at 1.98 trillion KRW in 2023, 10.8% growth.
13
Mask pack sales hit 1.45 trillion KRW, 55% of skincare sub-segment.
14
The South Korean cosmetics market CAGR 2018-2023 was 5.2%, reaching 17.5 trillion KRW.
15
Sun care products grew 8.9% to 890 billion KRW in summer 2023.
16
Nail care segment 450 billion KRW, 12% growth from K-pop influence.
17
Oral care cosmetics market 1.67 trillion KRW in 2023.
18
Deodorants segment 320 billion KRW, 7.5% growth.
19
Eyelash serum sales up 28% to 150 billion KRW.
20
BB cream market 1.05 trillion KRW, invented in Korea.
21
Cushion foundation sales 780 billion KRW in 2023.
22
Lip tint segment grew 14.5% to 420 billion KRW.
Interpretation
Market Size And Growth Interpretation
South Korea’s cosmetics market grew to 18.31 trillion KRW in 2023, a 7.2% rise from 2022, showing steady momentum driven by skincare and premium demand as online sales already reached 45.6% of the total market.
05 · Category
Regulatory And Innovation21 stats
01
South Korea's cosmetics regulation under KS standards updated 12 new safety tests in 2023.
02
1,245 new cosmetics patents filed in South Korea in 2023 by K-beauty firms.
03
MFDS approved 5,678 cosmetics formulations for vegan claims in 2023.
04
R&D expenditure in cosmetics industry totaled 850 billion KRW in 2023, 4.6% of revenue.
05
Nanotechnology used in 23.4% of new South Korean sunscreens launched in 2023.
06
Biotech-derived ingredients in 18.7% of premium skincare innovations in 2023.
07
AI-driven customization tools adopted by 45 cosmetics brands for personalization in 2023.
08
Zero-waste formulation certifications granted to 320 products by KCCM in 2023.
09
Stem cell tech in anti-aging creams rose 31.2% in patent applications.
10
MFDS banned 15 ingredients in cosmetics effective 2024.
11
3D printing for custom prosthetics in beauty tech, 50 patents.
12
Probiotics in cosmetics launched 120 new products in 2023.
13
KFDA certified 2,300 cruelty-free cosmetics in 2023.
14
Microbiome research funded 150 billion KRW by government.
15
AR try-on apps used by 65% of online shoppers.
16
Blockchain traceability in 15 brands for authenticity.
17
Gene editing for stable ingredients, 30 approvals.
18
VR training for cosmetics application in 20 academies.
19
Hypoallergenic claims verified for 4,500 products.
20
LED mask devices regulated as cosmetics 2023.
21
Exosome tech in 25 new serums approved.
Interpretation
Regulatory And Innovation Interpretation
In 2023 South Korea showed how regulation is accelerating innovation, with KS standards adding 12 new safety tests alongside strong R and D investment of 850 billion KRW and 1,245 new cosmetics patents from K beauty firms.
report visual · Comparison
K-Beauty keeps climbing: key growth and digital acceleration
Cosmetics demand is rising across categories and channels, with online sales playing a major role and premium and clean beauty segments expanding.
Online sales of cosmetics in South Korea comprised 45.6% of total market sales in 2023, totaling 8.35 trillion KRW.45.6%
Clean beauty cosmetics sales in South Korea surged 22.7% in 2023 to 2.41 trillion KRW.22.7%
Premium cosmetics segment in South Korea expanded 12.4% YoY in 2023 to 6.78 trillion KRW, led by anti-aging formulations12.4%
The South Korean cosmetics market reached a value of 18.31 trillion KRW in 2023, up 7.2% from 17.08 trillion KRW in 20227.2%
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Margot Villeneuve. (2026, February 13). South Korea Cosmetics Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/south-korea-cosmetics-industry-statistics
MLA
Margot Villeneuve. "South Korea Cosmetics Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/south-korea-cosmetics-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Margot Villeneuve. 2026. "South Korea Cosmetics Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/south-korea-cosmetics-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
82 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level