THE WHAT? US investment management firm Guinness Atkinson has launched a dedicated K-Beauty exchange-traded fund (ETF), providing investors with exposure to South Korea’s expanding cosmetics industry, including manufacturers, brands, distributors and medical aesthetics companies.
THE DETAILS The Guinness Atkinson K-Beauty ETF, trading under the ticker KBTY, tracks the Indxx K-Beauty Index and carries an annual expense ratio of 0.55 percent. The fund provides targeted investment exposure across South Korea’s cosmetics value chain, including established brands, original design manufacturers (ODMs), retail distribution networks and medical aesthetics businesses. The launch follows record South Korean cosmetics exports of US$11.4 billion in 2025, making the country the world’s second-largest cosmetics exporter, according to the country’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Guinness Atkinson highlighted South Korea’s advanced contract manufacturing infrastructure, which can enable brands to move from product development to retail distribution within three to six months.
THE WHY? The launch highlights growing institutional investor interest in South Korea’s cosmetics industry as K-Beauty develops into a significant global manufacturing and export sector. By offering investment exposure across manufacturers, brands and distribution businesses, the fund reflects increasing recognition of the industry’s international growth potential and the strategic importance of South Korea’s cosmetics supply chain.
Source: PR Newswire
