K-Beauty has gained traction in the global market, leveraging indie brands and K-culture, but experts say it still lacks fundamental technology and brand recognition. To enhance brand competitiveness, development of core technologies and training of specialized personnel are essential.
Kim Jin-woong, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University, analyzed the success of K-Beauty during the '2026 Korean Chemical Society Annual Meeting and Conference' held at BEXCO in Busan from October 28 to 30. He noted, "The influence comes from the effective integration of indie brands into niche markets with Korean culture." However, he pointed out that South Korea currently lacks globally renowned cosmetic brands.
He acknowledged significant growth in manufacturing capabilities, stating, "We have become the second-largest in the world in cosmetic manufacturing and production capabilities." He emphasized that ultimately, companies with strong brands dominate the market, particularly French firms. "We need to enhance our branding capabilities," he added, noting that substantial development in fundamental technology is still needed.
Kim also highlighted the lack of foundational research and talent development. He remarked, "There are currently no specialized departments for cosmetics, and while major universities conduct research in cosmetic technology, there is still a weak leadership group in this field." He advised that, since the industry is largely driven by companies, the government should implement programs to enhance foundational education and research and development in schools.
On this day, Kim presented research in the field of bio-nano convergence technology. He was joined by professors Kang Taek-jin from Dongguk University and Kwak Sun-young from Seoul National University, who shared their studies on cell-free protein synthesis and plant nanosensors and RNA delivery, respectively. Kang introduced technology for producing necessary proteins without cell culture, stating, "We can already synthesize at a considerable scale," but noted that commercialization as pharmaceuticals requires consideration of purification and quality control processes.
The conference featured a special keynote lecture by Yoshinori Ohsumi, a Nobel Prize-winning professor from Kyoto University, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry last year for his work on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Ohsumi shared the honor with Richard Robson from the University of Melbourne and Omar Yaghi from UC Berkeley. This year, another Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Kenso Soai from Tokyo Institute of Technology, marking two consecutive years of Nobel laureates in chemistry from Japan, bringing the total to ten.
Sessions showcasing research achievements in key fields followed. At Dongjin Semichem, executives Kim Hyun-jin and Jeong Hak-ki presented technologies in the semiconductor and display packaging sectors. In the area of 'AI, Semiconductor, and Industrial Process Innovation,' Professors Yoon Chang-min from Inha University and Kim Jeong-hwan from Yonsei University discussed advanced packaging for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), high thermal conductivity materials, industrial AI, and sustainable process design.
On October 30, Kim Jeong-hoon, a researcher at the Korea Chemical Research Institute and the 2025 recipient of the Korean Chemical Society Award, will deliver a lecture. In the afternoon, separate sessions will be held, focusing on topics such as 'Biotechnology for a Clean Future' in the bioengineering division, 'Intelligent Materials and Physical AI-Based Future Material Innovations' in the applied materials division, and 'Research on the Hazard and Prediction Technologies of Chemical Products' in the chemical safety division.
Park Jeong-soo, president of the Korean Chemical Society, expressed hope that this conference would mark a significant step forward for South Korea's science and technology.
Kim Jin-woong, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University, analyzed the success of K-Beauty during the '2026 Korean Chemical Society Annual Meeting and Conference' held at BEXCO in Busan from October 28 to 30. He noted, "The influence comes from the effective integration of indie brands into niche markets with Korean culture." However, he pointed out that South Korea currently lacks globally renowned cosmetic brands.
He acknowledged significant growth in manufacturing capabilities, stating, "We have become the second-largest in the world in cosmetic manufacturing and production capabilities." He emphasized that ultimately, companies with strong brands dominate the market, particularly French firms. "We need to enhance our branding capabilities," he added, noting that substantial development in fundamental technology is still needed.
Kim also highlighted the lack of foundational research and talent development. He remarked, "There are currently no specialized departments for cosmetics, and while major universities conduct research in cosmetic technology, there is still a weak leadership group in this field." He advised that, since the industry is largely driven by companies, the government should implement programs to enhance foundational education and research and development in schools.
On this day, Kim presented research in the field of bio-nano convergence technology. He was joined by professors Kang Taek-jin from Dongguk University and Kwak Sun-young from Seoul National University, who shared their studies on cell-free protein synthesis and plant nanosensors and RNA delivery, respectively. Kang introduced technology for producing necessary proteins without cell culture, stating, "We can already synthesize at a considerable scale," but noted that commercialization as pharmaceuticals requires consideration of purification and quality control processes.
The conference featured a special keynote lecture by Yoshinori Ohsumi, a Nobel Prize-winning professor from Kyoto University, who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry last year for his work on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Ohsumi shared the honor with Richard Robson from the University of Melbourne and Omar Yaghi from UC Berkeley. This year, another Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Kenso Soai from Tokyo Institute of Technology, marking two consecutive years of Nobel laureates in chemistry from Japan, bringing the total to ten.
Sessions showcasing research achievements in key fields followed. At Dongjin Semichem, executives Kim Hyun-jin and Jeong Hak-ki presented technologies in the semiconductor and display packaging sectors. In the area of 'AI, Semiconductor, and Industrial Process Innovation,' Professors Yoon Chang-min from Inha University and Kim Jeong-hwan from Yonsei University discussed advanced packaging for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), high thermal conductivity materials, industrial AI, and sustainable process design.
On October 30, Kim Jeong-hoon, a researcher at the Korea Chemical Research Institute and the 2025 recipient of the Korean Chemical Society Award, will deliver a lecture. In the afternoon, separate sessions will be held, focusing on topics such as 'Biotechnology for a Clean Future' in the bioengineering division, 'Intelligent Materials and Physical AI-Based Future Material Innovations' in the applied materials division, and 'Research on the Hazard and Prediction Technologies of Chemical Products' in the chemical safety division.
Park Jeong-soo, president of the Korean Chemical Society, expressed hope that this conference would mark a significant step forward for South Korea's science and technology.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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