Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) visited the headquarters of SILICON2, a cosmetics distribution company, on Thursday, November 6, to review Korea’s cosmetics export performance and hear firsthand from industry representatives about the challenges faced when entering global markets. Korea’s cosmetics exports reached a record USD 10.2 billion in 2024 and totaled USD 9.42 billion as of October 2025 (up 11.9 percent year-on-year). Export destinations are also diversifying beyond the U.S. and Japan to include Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.

SILICON2, a cosmetics distribution specialist that operates StyleKorean.com—Korea’s largest e-commerce platform for direct-to-consumer (D2C) exports of beauty products—features over 500 Korean beauty brands in 150 countries. The company also runs MOIDA, a chain of overseas stores located in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Indonesia, further expanding its global presence.

MOTIR plans to provide comprehensive support to help the rapidly growing K-beauty industry, driven by the global popularity of the Korean Wave, expand its presence in international markets. First, to promote D2C exports, the ministry will introduce new programs next year to support the development of global online malls and delivery and payment service solutions. Second, through its consumer goods trade centers, MOTIR will offer hands-on assistance to Korean cosmetics companies in addressing challenges such as logistics, certification, and legal compliance when entering overseas markets. Lastly, the ministry will actively support participation in major international beauty exhibitions and facilitate entry into local and global online and offline distribution channels.

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo stated, “Korea’s cosmetics industry has strengthened its global presence with trendy products and innovative technologies, but growing protectionism and import regulations could pose challenges to future expansion. MOTIR will continue to identify and address these issues while fostering new export models, such as D2C exports, so that K-beauty can reach consumers around the world more directly.”