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Skin, K-beauty, Korea trips and the beauty industry — ask and share
Kolmar Korea retakes the market-cap lead over Cosmax after 560 days
The ODM ranking flipped again on the stock market. As of May 20, Kolmar Korea was worth ₩2.1669 trillion and Cosmax ₩2.0089 trillion, ending Cosmax's lead that had run since Oct. 30, 2024, 560 days in all. Numbers behind
0 0Kolmar Korea and Cosmax post record Q2, lifted by indie brands
Korea's two biggest cosmetics ODMs both posted their best quarter ever. Kolmar Korea Operating profit ₩110.3B (+50.2%) Revenue ₩861.3B (+17.9%) Cosmax Operating profit ₩73.7B (+21.3%) Revenue ₩794.9B (+27.5%) What drove
0 0Google Maps in Korea: approved in February, still no walking directions
In late February Korea gave conditional approval for Google to export 1:5,000-scale map data, ending a dispute that went back to 2007, the Korea Herald reported. Many travellers read that as “Google Maps finally works in
0 0Korea tax refund in 2026: what changed and when to ask at the till
Tax refund rules come up constantly in shopping threads, and 2026 brought one big change worth knowing before you book anything. The headline change The VAT refund on medical and cosmetic procedures ended on January 1, 2
0 0Korea just passed a law to make K-beauty the world's No. 1 cosmetics industry
Korea has a new law aimed squarely at beauty. The Act on the Promotion and Support of the Cosmetics Industry was promulgated on September 15, 2026, and the government says a cross-ministry strategy follows this year. Wha
0 0Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong: where do you usually buy K-beauty?
Even within the Chinese-speaking world, K-beauty shopping habits differ a lot. We'd like to collect how it works where you live. Things to share Your main channel: e-commerce platforms, cross-border sites, drugstores, de
0 0Japanese visitors to Korea hit a record in 2025: the "go to Korea today" era
According to the Korea Tourism Organization, 3.65 million Japanese travellers visited Korea in 2025, a new record. The 2026 target is 4.5 million (up 23%). Here is what Japanese travel trade site Travel Voice reported ab
0 0K-ETA exemption runs to Dec 31, 2026: do you still need to apply?
Good news if you are planning a Korea trip before the year is out: the temporary K-ETA exemption has been extended until December 31, 2026, according to Visit Korea. What that means in practice Nationals of the visa-free
0 0Planning around autumn leaves in Korea: how to time it without guessing
Autumn is one of the most requested seasons in Korea travel threads, and the big worry is always the same: will the leaves actually be there when I arrive? How people plan around it Colour usually starts in the mountains
0 0Planning skin treatments in Seoul? The 10% VAT refund for foreigners has ended
If you are budgeting a derm trip to Korea from old blog posts, one line needs updating. The special VAT refund for foreign patients on cosmetic procedures expired on December 31, 2025. What it was: Introduced in 2016, it
0 0Autumn and winter in Korea: which kind of festival would you plan around?
From late autumn into winter, a lot of travellers start building trips around seasonal events rather than sights. The ones that come up again and again in travel threads: Lantern displays along Seoul's Cheonggyecheon str
Poll
Which seasonal event would you build a Korea trip around?
Pick one to see the results
0 0Naver, Kakao or Google: which map app actually got you around Korea?
Map apps come up in almost every first-timer thread about Korea, and opinions are strong. What people usually say Naver Map: detailed transit routes, exits and walking paths; has an English interface; place names can sti
Poll
Which map app did you rely on most in Korea?
Pick one to see the results
0 0Mexicans heading to Korea in 2026: no K-ETA until 31 December
If you hold a Mexican passport and are planning Seoul, there's good news for the rest of the year: Korea's Ministry of Justice extended the temporary K-ETA exemption (electronic travel authorisation) for Mexican passport
0 0Same K-beauty product: buy it in Japan or in Korea?
One question keeps coming up among Japanese K-beauty fans: is it cheaper to buy in Korea? The honest answer is "it depends", and opinions split. Why Korea is often said to be better value In-store sales and bonus sets at
0 0Buy K-beauty in Seoul or order cross-border at home — how big is the gap?
A debate that comes up constantly in Chinese-speaking K-beauty groups: is it really cheaper to buy in Korea than on cross-border shopping platforms back home? The usual arguments: Korean stores often run 1+1 deals and bo
0 0China's 'vitamin C by day, retinoid by night' trend — is it big in Korea too?
'Morning C, night A' (vitamin C in the morning, a retinoid at night) has been a big trend in Chinese-language skincare circles. What does Korea make of it? Looking at Korean products and discussions: Vitamin C and retino
0 0Korea warns: that single-use vial is a serum, not eye drops
Those tiny single-dose vials are cute and travel-friendly. They also look a lot like disposable artificial tears, and Korea's food and drug safety ministry (MFDS) issued a warning about exactly that in August 2026. What
0 0Korean-style makeup vs popular Chinese makeup looks: what's the real difference?
Chinese makeup brands have grown fast, and people often compare 'Korean-style makeup' with looks popular in China. The differences people usually mention (broad trends only; personal style varies a lot): Base Korean styl
0 0Why Korean hair loss shampoos carry a 'functional cosmetic' label
Browse the shampoo shelf in Korea and you will notice many bottles marked as functional cosmetics for easing hair loss. A U.S. trade market report explains how that category came about. Key points from the report: In 201
0 0What does '기능성화장품' on a Korean skincare box mean?
Shop for skincare in Korea and you'll often see 기능성화장품 on the box. It means 'functional cosmetics'. In short It's a Korean regulatory category for cosmetics that make specific efficacy claims The best-known ones are brig
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