South
Korea’s cosmetic exports ranked second in the world for the first time last
year, driven by the growing global popularity of K-beauty. In 2024, Korea ranked
third after France and the United States, but it surpassed the U.S. within just
one year. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Korea’s cosmetic
exports reached a record high of USD 11.4 billion (approximately KRW 17.3
trillion) last year. This represents an 11.8% increase compared to the previous
record of USD 10.2 billion in 2024. France ranked first with USD 24.3 billion,
while the United States ranked third with USD 10.8 billion. Korea’s
cosmetics trade surplus, calculated by subtracting imports from exports, also
exceeded USD 10 billion for the first time, reaching USD 10.1 billion
(approximately KRW 15.3 trillion) last year. This accounts for about 13% of
Korea’s overall trade surplus of USD 78 billion, demonstrating that the
cosmetics industry has become one of the nation’s leading export industries. Export
destinations have also diversified. The United States became the largest
importer of Korean cosmetics for the first time last year. In addition, the
number of export destination countries increased from 172 in 2024 to 202 last
year. An official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety stated, “The
superior technology, strict quality control, and rapid market responsiveness of
Korean cosmetics have proven successful in the global market” (Chosun Ilbo, May
23, 2026). 
|
