Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yoon-cheol visited Kolmar Korea's Comprehensive Technology Institute in Seocho-gu, Seoul on April 28 to discuss strategies for fostering the K-beauty industry. The visit included a tour of the company's AI-powered beauty tech R&D facilities, followed by a roundtable with industry leaders to address on-site challenges and support measures.
According to Kolmar Korea on April 29, the meeting was attended by officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, including MFDS Commissioner Oh Yu-kyung. Industry participants included Kolmar Group Vice Chairman Yoon Sang-hyun, Kolmar Korea CEO Choi Hyun-kyu, Korea Cosmetic Association Vice Chairman Yeon Jae-ho, Amorepacific CTO Seo Byung-hwi, LG Household & Health Care CTO Kang Nae-kyu, Lululab CEO Choi Yong-joon, Lilycover CEO Ahn Sun-hee, and Piki Global CEO Lee Young-rong. The group discussed ways to nurture the beauty tech sector and expand public-private collaboration.
The visit was arranged to showcase Kolmar Korea's beauty tech competitiveness. Earlier this year, the company won the Best Innovation Award in the Beauty Tech category at CES 2026 for its AI-based 'SKA Beauty Device'—the first time a beauty company has received the top honor. It also won an Innovation Award in the Digital Health category, achieving a double win.
Kolmar Korea's Comprehensive Technology Institute employs approximately 700 researchers and integrates labs for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and health functional foods. Technologies developed there are applied at domestic production facilities and global manufacturing sites in the U.S., Canada, and China.
Deputy Prime Minister Koo stated, "K-beauty is evolving beyond the cosmetics industry into a future strategic industry that converges AI, data, and devices. The public and private sectors will work together to open a new era of K-beauty—made in Korea, followed by the world."
Vice Chairman Yoon emphasized, "For K-beauty to continue growing, we need an industrial ecosystem where star brands can be consistently created. Kolmar Korea will fulfill its role for the sustainable growth and development of K-beauty."
The government also took note of Kolmar Korea's domestic production expansion strategy. In April, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun visited the Sejong plant to deliver a certificate confirming the company's status as a 'reshored enterprise.' Kolmar Korea consolidated its China production at the Wuxi plant and announced plans to expand domestic production bases. It was selected as the first reshored company in January 2025. The Sejong plant serves as the global headquarters for Kolmar's production network, manufacturing products for approximately 4,500 domestic and international clients.
Source: Read the original report | Published: May 29, 2026