Korea’s aesthetic medicine enjoys golden era with surge in foreign spending

Boom in dermatology and cosmetic procedures fuels rise in revenues, exports and company valuations

A cosmetologist performs an injection for lip augmentation and anti wrinkle therapy at a beauty salon (Courtesy of Getty Images)
A cosmetologist performs an injection for lip augmentation and anti wrinkle therapy at a beauty salon (Courtesy of Getty Images)
Tae-Ho Lee 4
2025-05-19 11:33:09 thlee@hankyung.com
Healthcare

As beauty-conscious tourists continue to flock to Seoul’s clinics, South Korea’s aesthetic medicine sector may be entering a golden era, where culture, commerce and cosmetic innovation align.

In China’s waterway city Hangzhou, K-beauty redefines ‘shuiguang'

In China’s waterway city Hangzhou, K-beauty redefines ‘shuiguang'

Jetema, Korean beauty maker, operates a booth at MEVOS, China’s largest medical aesthetics gathering, in May 2025, to showcase its dermal filler, Epitique, or e.p.t.q. HANGZHOU – The capital of China’s Zhejiang province, Hangzhou, is the southern terminus of the ancient Grand

Packaging rides K-beauty wave: Shares of cosmetics container makers soar

Packaging rides K-beauty wave: Shares of cosmetics container makers soar

Samhwa's cosmetics product containers As South Korea’s independent beauty brands continue to take the global stage by storm, investors are now looking beyond the creams and serums – to the very containers they come in.Shares in cosmetics packaging companies are surging, buoyed by th

S.Korea’s medical tourism thrives on weak currency

S.Korea’s medical tourism thrives on weak currency

Foreign tourists in Seoul  Foreign visitors to South Korea jumped nearly 20% early this year, largely driven by a sharp depreciation in the country’s currency value against major foreign currencies, which has also led to a boom in Korean medical tourism.According to data released Thu

K-beauty defies trade headwinds as exports to China, US lead sales growth

K-beauty defies trade headwinds as exports to China, US lead sales growth

Oera is the luxury skincare brand of Handsome, a cosmetics unit of Hyundai Department Store South Korea’s beauty industry is mounting a powerful global push, defying trade pressures and economic uncertainties with a surge in exports that has captured the attention of consumers from Beijin

K-beauty exports to China rebound after 4-month slump

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Beauty of Joseon is a mid-sized Korean cosmetics brand South Korea’s beauty industry is showing signs of recovery in China, with exports rebounding after four months of decline.The turnaround follows aggressive economic stimulus measures by the Chinese government, which have helped revive

K-beauty shake-up: APR, Shinsegae rise as Aekyung declines

K-beauty shake-up: APR, Shinsegae rise as Aekyung declines

A CJ Olive Young outlet in Seoul South Korea’s beauty industry is undergoing a major reshuffle, with new players rising to prominence while established giants face growing competition.For years, Amorepacific Corp., LG H&H Co. and Aekyung Industrial Co. have dominated the K-beauty sect

Korea’s booming medical tourism: Skin care, plastic surgery in demand

Korea’s booming medical tourism: Skin care, plastic surgery in demand

Korea aims to attract more foreign patients through expanded medical service exports The number of foreign patients visiting South Korea for medical tourism hit a record high last year, driven by those who traveled to Korea for skin care and plastic surgery.The Ministry of Health and Welfare sa

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