Driven by unprecedented global demand for skincare and cosmetics, the National Assembly passed landmark legislation this week designed to systematically cultivate Korea’s beauty sector into a primary engine of national economic growth. The Act on the Fostering and Support of the Cosmetics Industry establishes the nation’s first legal framework created specifically to nurture the commercial development of the sector. The measure operates independently of the long-standing Cosmetics Act, which historically focused on safety standards, manufacturing compliance and regulatory quality control rather than industrial expansion. The legislative milestone follows a historic surge in international sales. Korean cosmetics exports reached an all-time high of $11.4 billion in 2025, solidifying the country’s status alongside France as one of the world's top two beauty exporters. Cosmetics have also surged to become the single largest export category among domestic small and medium-sized enterprises, driving substantial employment and manufacturing output across the nation. Yet despite its massiv