APR CEO Kim Byung-hoon / Courtesy of APR
Korean beauty-tech firm APR has made it to Time magazine's 100 Most Influential Companies of 2026 list, becoming the first Korean beauty company ever to make the list and the only Korean firm included this year.
Time placed the company in the “Titans” category alongside global heavyweights such as Alphabet, Nvidia, Meta and SpaceX, APR said Sunday. The U.S. magazine compiles the annual list based on recommendations from global correspondents, editors and industry experts, evaluating companies on influence, innovation and leadership. The category refers to the largest and most dominant firms shaping the global economy.
Describing APR as a global K-beauty phenomenon, the magazine said the company’s rapid international rise — particularly in the United States — has been driven by its Medicube brand, known for innovative skincare products and beauty devices that dominate social media platforms such as TikTok.
The magazine noted that Medicube became the top-selling beauty brand on Amazon during the retailer’s 2025 Prime Day event and has since expanded into more than 1,400 Ulta Beauty stores across the U.S.
In 2025, APR reported more than $1 billion in annual revenue, with overseas markets accounting for 80 percent of total sales.
“The selection reflects global recognition of the company’s beauty-tech innovation and competitiveness,” an APR official said, adding that the firm will continue striving to become a global anti-aging company that transforms consumers’ lives worldwide.
Source: Korea Times News
