The Korea Makeup Professionals Association (KMPA), led by President An Mi-ryeo, has announced the 19th K-Beauty King Makeup Festival Awards 2026, which will be held concurrently online and offline.
This event is co-organized by KMPA and the Korea Beauty Stylist Professional Skills Association (KBSPSA), both registered non-profit organizations under the Ministry of Employment and Labor in South Korea. The initiative is officially approved as a significant private skill competition by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea. Key government institutions and associations, including the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Korean Committee for WorldSkills, the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Businesses, the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprises, and Seokyeong University, have all participated as sponsors, enhancing the event's credibility.
To increase accessibility for participants and ensure both quality and accuracy in judging, the competition will be divided into online and offline formats. The offline main event is set to take place on November 7, 2026, at the Myongji University Gymnasium in Yongin. Contestants, comprising students from beauty academies and public participants, will compete across 91 categories including makeup, hair, nails, skin (waxing, sugaring, beauty devices), eyelashes, and skin art. Registration for offline participants runs from September 14 to October 30, 2026.
The online competition is structured to prevent damage to submitted works. It will be conducted through pre-submission with registrations accepted from September 14 to October 19, 2026. A panel of professional judges will assess entries on October 23, 2026, in the association's seminar room.
Notably, the association has adapted to the rapidly growing beauty tech and self-makeup trends by increasing the practicality of the competition. New categories have been established, including ‘Self-Beauty Makeup’ tailored to personalized styling needs and ‘Beauty Device-Galvanic’ to align with the expansion of the home care and beauty tech market, aimed at identifying the next generation of beauty talent focused on practical field expertise.
Outstanding winners will receive various prestigious awards, including the National Assembly Speaker's Award (expected), the Minister of Employment and Labor Award, the Mayor of Seoul Award, the WorldSkills Korean Committee President's Award, the Small and Medium Business Federation Chairman's Award, the Federation of Micro Enterprises Chairman's Award, and awards from university presidents, along with trophies and medals. Awards for the top educational institutions and instructors will also be included.
An Mi-ryeo, President of KMPA, stated, “This competition focuses on nurturing practical professionals by introducing device categories and self-beauty segments that align with the rapidly changing trends in the beauty industry. Through fair and safe event management, we aim to enhance the global status of K-beauty and serve as a gateway for innovative beauty artists.”
Applications for the event can be submitted via email after downloading the form from the association's website. Further details can be obtained through the association's secretariat.
