Daebong Group's KOSDAQ-listed affiliates reported robust first-quarter results, riding the continued global K-beauty wave, according to industry sources on May 18.
Daebong LS recorded quarterly sales of KRW 29.1 billion (approx. USD 22 million), the highest ever for a single quarter. Following its first-ever annual sales exceeding KRW 100 billion last year, the company is on track to set another record in 2025.
Overseas sales surged 37% year-on-year, driving overall growth. In Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam), demand for climate-specific clean beauty ingredients continued to expand. Exports of hair care and high-functional skincare ingredients also rose. In the U.S., sebum-care functional ingredients performed well, while in Europe, PDRN-based next-generation bio materials saw strong sales.
Daebong LS's medical beauty business, a new growth driver, has entered a revenue expansion phase. Its recently launched adhesive transparent wound dressing, 'DB Jino Algi Bio Cell Cream MD', has secured listings at major health & beauty retail platforms. The company plans to extend distribution to pharmaceutical and hospital channels.
However, operating profit and net profit temporarily declined due to increased oil price and exchange rate volatility, as well as higher interest and depreciation costs from relocating to the new Songdo headquarters.
A Daebong LS official said: "The global K-beauty trend and our high-functional bio material competitiveness are gaining recognition in overseas markets. With productivity improvements and the development of high-value bio materials such as peptides, both profitability and growth will improve from the second half."
PNK Skin Clinical Research Center reported Q1 sales of KRW 6.2 billion and operating profit of KRW 1 billion. It maintained sales above KRW 6 billion for the second consecutive quarter. Order backlog grew 20% to KRW 6 billion, boosting future performance expectations.
Demand for human application tests for cosmetic efficacy verification and regulatory compliance in different countries continued to rise. Customized testing optimized for product characteristics and efficacy claims is expanding, highlighting PNK's strengths in test design and data analysis.
However, profit fell as some health functional food human application test projects were delayed, and the company proactively expanded headcount to strengthen testing capabilities and handle increased orders.
A PNK official said: "We are expanding our skin clinical testing scope from cosmetics to health functional foods, beauty devices, and overall beauty & healthcare. We are also strengthening global regulatory response services and broadening our growth base." He added: "Our subsidiary K-Onirica is also expanding projects in North America and Europe, aiming for stable order flow and another record performance this year."
Source: Read the original report | Published: May 18, 2026