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K-Beauty industry sees record growth driven by indie brands and ODM firms
The K-Beauty sector is experiencing significant expansion, fueled by a surge in small and medium-sized indie brands and the robust performance of Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) companies. Major manufacturers Kolmar Korea and Cosmax have reported record-breaking quarterly earnings, driven by high demand for rapid product development and global distribution.
At the ‘Amazon Beauty in Seoul 2026’ event, Kolmar Holdings Vice Chairman Yoon Sang-hyun expressed absolute confidence in the industry's sustainable growth, citing the continuous emergence of new brands as the primary engine. To support this ecosystem, Amazon Global Selling Korea announced several initiatives, including ‘Project Million,’ which aims to help 50 new sellers achieve $1 million in revenue within their first year on the platform.
Global demand is shifting toward the US and Japan, moving away from a previous reliance on the Chinese market. This shift has turned previously underperforming US subsidiaries for Kolmar and Cosmax into profitable assets. As indie brands leverage ODM expertise to enter international markets via platforms like Amazon, the industry is increasingly focusing on integrating AI and healthcare technologies to maintain a competitive edge.
Entities
Amazon · Amazon Global Selling Korea · Cosmax · Dr. Melasin · Kolmar Korea · Sang-hyun Yoon · Shin Hwa-sook · Yoon Sang-hyun
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The brand Dr. Melasin is projected to reach at least 800 billion won in sales this year. zdnet.co.kr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] South Korean cosmetics exports exceeded $1.2 billion in September. www.biotimes.co.kr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Amazon plans to support expansion into five European countries, including the UK and Germany. www.biotimes.co.kr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Kolmar's third-quarter operating profit increased 57% compared to the previous year. www.biotimes.co.kr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Amazon launched ‘Project Million’ to help new sellers reach $1 million in U.S. sales in their first year. www.biotimes.co.kr
- [● 3 SOURCES] Amazon Global Selling Korea announced the ‘Amazon Beauty in Seoul 2026’ event. www.biotimes.co.kr · zdnet.co.kr
- [● 2 SOURCES] Vice Chairman Sang-hyun Yoon expressed 100% confidence in the sustainable growth of K-beauty. zdnet.co.kr
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Kolmar Korea's third-quarter operating profit is estimated at 91.8 billion won. www.biotimes.co.kr