BBC Highlights K-Beauty’s Global Rise and Challenges
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
BBC reported that K-Beauty grew from word-of-mouth trends into a major economic force, citing the popularity of snail mucin (뮤신) serums and viral challenges that helped small brands like COSRX become global players and later be acquired by larger firms such as Amorepacific. The report credited continuous innovation and social media for driving K-Beauty’s rise, noting that South Korea is set to become the world’s second-largest cosmetics exporter by early 2025, surpassing France. However, intense domestic competition and thin profit margins have forced many brands to close (over 8,800 in recent years), and experts say a shift from influencer marketing toward demonstrating ingredient efficacy is needed. Trade barriers, including a 15% tariff on Korean goods imposed during the Trump administration in the U.S., also weigh on exporters.
