"From AI Skin Diagnostics to Eased Visa Requirements"... Government to Boost K-Beauty on All Fronts

The government is overhauling the K-beauty industry, which has focused on manufacturing and selling cosmetics, and transforming it into a high-value-added services industry combining artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and medical services and tourism. It will upgrade global skin data covering 17,000 people in 18 countries so AI can learn from it directly, and work to establish an “integrated K-healthcare hub” and ease medical-tourism visa requirements for foreign visitors coming to Korea for cosmetic surgery and dermatological procedures.

The Olive Young Festa LA 2026, held in Los Angeles, U.S., for three days starting August 14. Amorepacific

The Ministry of Economy and Finance announced the “Support Plan for AI- and Convergence-Based K-Beauty Services” on Oct. 14 at a meeting of economy-related ministers and the Service Industry Development Task Force, chaired by Vice Prime Minister Lee Hyeong-il.

Skin Data Bank to Become “AI-Ready,” Opening the Market for AI-Personalized Cosmetics

The government will first overhaul the Skin Data Bank, built since 2011 by the Korea Cosmetic Industry Institute under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, into a format optimized for AI training (AI-Ready). Until now, the bank has mainly provided basic raw data, such as skin measurements and survey results from various countries. Going forward, the government plans to quantify data by body area and standardize and refine its formats so companies can use it immediately to develop AI skin diagnostics and personalized solutions.

The government will also increase the value of the data bank by collecting new data on 2,000 foreign visitors to Korea before and after makeup, along with detailed images captured under controlled conditions. As AI-powered cosmetics manufacturing technology—which uses AI cameras to assess skin conditions and determine optimal ingredient formulations—remains at the research and development (R&D) stage, the government plans to support R&D for quality and process AI agents (KRW 7.2 billion in 2026-2027) and focus on identifying promising technologies to accelerate the development of the market.

Related regulations will also be substantially eased. Under the current Cosmetics Act, one cosmetics preparation manager must be stationed at each personalized cosmetics store. The government will revise this staffing requirement to allow one manager to oversee multiple stores when AI and automated robotic equipment are used.

Amorepacific's beauty brand Mamonde made an exclusive debut on Nykaa, India's largest beauty and lifestyle platform, in August, stepping up its push into the local market. Amorepacific

Combining Tourism, Shopping and Beauty... Supporting Regional Ecosystems and Overseas Sales Channels

The government will also step up efforts to expand offline infrastructure to spread K-beauty across regions and make shopping more convenient for foreign tourists. It will expand AI skin diagnostics and virtual makeup experiences at the K-Beauty experience and promotion centers, known as Beauty Play, in Hongdae, Myeongdong and Busan. It will also double the number of stores accepting standardized QR-code payments linked to 71 overseas apps frequently used by foreign visitors, including Alipay, from 40,000 this year to 80,000 next year.

In addition, the government will establish K-Beauty clusters in two locations, Gyeongju and Jeju, centered on major commercial districts and combining beauty promotion and experiences with buyer consultations and export support. It will also open a global K-Beauty Academy in Osong, North Chungcheong Province, in the first half of next year, with capacity to train 1,900 specialists annually.

A global support system providing close assistance to export companies will also be launched. The countries eligible for support from the AI Cosbot, a chatbot that provides information on overseas regulations, will be expanded from 10 major markets to include 10 emerging markets, including Vietnam, Singapore and Mexico. The government will also establish an official halal certification system to support entry into Muslim-majority markets. To combat counterfeit cosmetics overseas, it will introduce an authentication system based on a national certification mark and strengthen intellectual property (IP) protection through public-private cooperation.

On the financial support front, the government will continue disbursing a KRW 43 billion K-beauty joint fund established with manufacturing anchor companies Kolmar Korea and COSMAX, and create a new KRW 25 billion open innovation fund to promote collaboration between corporate venture capital (CVC) firms and startups. The preferential guarantee limit for promising growth companies will also be increased to KRW 120 billion.

Staff at the K-beauty booth operated by KOTRA showcase Korean-made cosmetics at the 2026 National Day event hosted by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Sydney at the Shangri-La Hotel in downtown Sydney, Australia. Sept. 29, 2026. Yonhap News Agency

Building Trust in Medical Beauty... Easing Visa Requirements and Establishing an “Integrated Hub”

With the number of foreign patients visiting Korea rising rapidly, the government is working to establish an “integrated K-healthcare hub” by 2027-2028. The hub will provide end-to-end management of medical beauty services, including dermatology and cosmetic surgery. Foreign patients will be able to use the hub for everything from initial consultations to appointments and payments, remote care before and after treatment, and arrangements for accommodation and tourism.

The government will actively pursue visa reforms to make it easier for foreign patients to enter the country. In consultation with the Ministry of Justice, it will ease the registration requirements for patient recruitment agencies—from 500 to 200 patients recruited annually—to help local clinics attract foreign patients. It will also introduce a 10-point evaluation bonus for applications from local medical institutions to increase the number designated as outstanding patient recruitment agencies.

In addition, for visitors entering Korea for “wellness tourism,” which goes beyond routine medical care to include healing and spa experiences, relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Justice, plan to draw up a pilot program in the first half of next year. The program will make it easier to obtain a visa without requiring visitors to use a medical institution.

To improve the quality of on-site services, the government will raise the limit on foreign patient coordinators that medical institutions can employ, currently set at two per institution. It will also distribute standard contracts and consent forms in multiple languages to help prevent medical disputes. Furthermore, it will expand the support offered by K-Bio Desks in seven overseas locations, including New York and Dubai, from medical devices and pharmaceuticals to include K-beauty, providing close assistance to Korean medical beauty institutions and companies seeking to expand overseas.

"Pursuing Enactment of the Framework Act on the Development of the Service Industry to Promote Systematic Growth"

Responsibility for promoting cosmetics and managing medical and beauty services is currently spread across multiple ministries, including the Ministry of Health and Welfare, while safety and regulatory support fall under the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and visas under the Ministry of Justice. There have also been persistent criticisms that existing laws, such as the Public Health Control Act, focus more on regulation than promotion.

Joo Hwan-wook, policy coordination director at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, said, "We will implement these measures without a hitch to strengthen K-beauty's global competitiveness." He added, "We will also work closely with the National Assembly to enact the Framework Act on the Development of the Service Industry, in order to foster high-value-added services spanning cosmetics manufacturing, beauty services, tourism and healthcare, and promote convergence across industries."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.