South Korea's Deputy Prime Minister and the head of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) visited Kolmar Korea's R&D center on March 28, signaling a strategic pivot from brand-centric support to technology and manufacturing in K-beauty. For overseas buyers, this underscores the growing importance of ODM (Original Development Manufacturing) firms as the real engine behind product innovation, speed-to-market, and regulatory compliance in the global medical aesthetics and cosmetics supply chain.
Government signal: ODM now at the core of K-beauty strategy
Deputy Prime Minister Koo Yoon-cheol toured Kolmar Korea's comprehensive technology institute in Seoul, accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and the MFDS. Koo stated, "K-beauty is evolving beyond traditional cosmetics into a future strategic industry that converges AI, data, and devices." The visit marks the first time a senior economic official has spotlighted an ODM firm as a key driver of national export strategy.
Kolmar Korea: From ODM to global tech powerhouse
Founded in 1990, Kolmar Korea was newly designated as a large business group by the Fair Trade Commission this year, with assets exceeding KRW 5 trillion. Its integrated R&D center houses over 700 researchers, and its technologies are applied across production bases in Sejong, Bucheon, China, the U.S., and Canada. The company's 2024 consolidated revenue reached KRW 2.72 trillion (up 11% YoY), with operating profit of KRW 239.6 billion (up 23.6% YoY).
CES 2026 breakthrough: AI-powered scar beauty device wins top innovation award
Kolmar Korea won the Best Innovation Award in the Beauty Tech category at CES 2026 for its "Scar Beauty Device," the first beauty company to receive the honor since Samsung Electronics in 2025. The device also won an Innovation Award in Digital Health, achieving two CES wins. It is the world's first one-stop integrated device that treats wounds and provides makeup coverage in 10 minutes, using AI to classify 12 wound types and piezoelectric micro-spray technology to apply treatment and custom color-matched cover powder (180+ shades).
Regulatory and channel signals: MFDS chief joins visit, signaling convergence of cosmetics and medical devices
MFDS Commissioner Oh Yu-kyung's presence highlights the blurring line between cosmetics and medical devices. The device's dual function—wound care and aesthetic coverage—positions it as a hybrid product that may require new regulatory frameworks. The meeting included executives from Amorepacific, LG Household & Health Care, and beauty tech startups, reflecting a collaborative ecosystem between brands, ODM firms, and innovators.
Sourcing context: ODM-driven growth reshapes global beauty supply chain
K-beauty exports hit a record USD 11.4 billion in 2024, making South Korea the world's second-largest cosmetics exporter after France. The top four ODM firms (Cosmax, Kolmar Korea, Cosmecca Korea, C&C International) surpassed KRW 6 trillion in combined revenue for the first time. According to Mintel, U.S. launches of Korean-made skincare products increased 20% versus 2020, while U.S.-made products declined 16%. This confirms that ODM manufacturing capability—not just brand marketing—is the new competitive advantage for global buyers seeking fast, compliant, and innovative product development.
Source: Read the original report | Published: June 05, 2026