THE WHAT? South Korea’s National Assembly has passed the Act on the Fostering and Support of the Cosmetics Industry, establishing the country’s first dedicated legal framework for developing cosmetics as a strategic national growth and export industry.
THE DETAILS The legislation gives the Ministry of Health and Welfare formal authority to support the wider cosmetics ecosystem, spanning brands, manufacturers, ingredients, packaging and distribution. The government will establish a new industry development strategy every five years and introduce an “innovative cosmetics company” certification, giving qualifying businesses priority access to research grants, state-backed investment and infrastructure programmes. Support will also cover AI-enabled product development, digital supply chains, workforce development and international regulatory compliance, with SMEs receiving priority access.
THE WHY? The legislation shifts government policy beyond cosmetics safety and regulation towards active industrial development, following record Korean cosmetics exports of US$11.4 billion in 2025. By providing targeted financial, technological and regulatory support across the supply chain, South Korea is seeking to strengthen K-beauty’s international competitiveness and establish cosmetics as a long-term engine of economic and export growth.
Source: The Korea Times
