The South Korean government has announced a comprehensive set of measures aimed at boosting AI-integrated K-beauty services. At an economic relations ministerial meeting presided over by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Lee Hyoung-il on October 14, strategies were outlined to evolve K-beauty from a product manufacturing focus to a high-value-added service industry that integrates AI, data, and devices.
With the rising prominence of personalized cosmetics and services, such as skin diagnostics and robot-assisted formulation, the new measures aim to enhance the global competitiveness of medical beauty. Central to the initiative are three key areas: fostering high-value-added services like AI diagnostics and personalized cosmetics, expanding the reach of integrated K-beauty services to regional and global markets, and securing global competitiveness in medical beauty.
As an initial step, the government plans to revamp its skin database—currently holding information on the skin characteristics of over 17,000 individuals from 18 countries—making it AI-ready to support companies in AI skin diagnostics and personalized solution development. Furthermore, the government will support R&D for the development of quality and process AI agent technologies applicable to personalized cosmetics, with an investment of 7.2 billion KRW allocated for the years 2026 to 2027.
The initiative also aims to improve operational efficiency by allowing AI and automation to aid in the management of personalized cosmetics instead of requiring dedicated staff at every outlet. Additionally, plans are underway to facilitate the establishment of a cosmetics safety evaluation system, which will include infrastructure development and expanded consulting support for businesses.
Experiential centers like the K-beauty experience centers in Hongdae, Myeongdong, and Busan will provide beauty trials such as AI skin diagnostics and virtual makeovers, enhancing the accessibility for international tourists. To streamline foreign visitor payment processes, the installation of standard QR code systems will also be accelerated.
To develop the K-beauty service ecosystem, clusters in Gyeongju and Jeju combining promotions, trials, and buyer consultations will be established. By the first half of next year, a K-beauty academy in Chungbuk Osong will train around 1,900 professionals annually in hair, makeup, and K-beauty services.
The government also plans the construction of a K-healthcare integrated hub platform to support foreign patients throughout the medical treatment process, integrating information on medical institutions, reservations, payments, and post-treatment management. Additionally, expedited visa issuance for outstanding local clinics will be considered to encourage the expansion of medical beauty services for foreign patients, while improvements to visa application review requirements are also planned.
Efforts to establish complex bases for medical beauty in conjunction with local governments are expected, targeting high-value services such as anti-aging packages. To enhance post-treatment support for foreign patients, the hiring limit for foreign coordinators at medical facilities will be increased, and documentation related to patient rights and responsibilities will be translated into multiple languages to aid service use and prevent disputes.
