How to be exposed to the South Korean manufacture

Cars and smartphones may be classified among the largest South Korea exports to the United States, but few goods inspire more followers of cosmetics in the Asian country.

K -Beauty – a term that covers a wide range of skin care, makeup and cosmetics from South Korea – was praised for its quality and value, leadership High demand in recent years.

The global call to South Korean culture also helped advance the popularity of cosmetics.

US-based PEARL MAK tells the BBC that she has recognized K-Uau products by her friends. The 27 -year -old graphic designer says that South Korean vaccines are suitable for their skin compared to some Western brands that tend to be more severe.

She now adds that “95 % of the skin care consists of K-Uau” products.

Mrs. Mac is not alone in her preference for South Korean skin care brands. Americans spent up to $ 1.7 billion (1.3 billion pounds) on K-Uau products in 2024, according to industry estimates. This represents an increase of more than 50 % compared to the previous year.

K -PEAUTY products are often more attractive than their Western counterparts – but they are also characterized by ingredients that are not usually present in the West – from Heartleaf to the snail mucin.

US President Donald Trump has now imposed a 15 % import tax on South Korean goods It was circulated between Seoul and Washington.

It is the 25 % less tax that Trump threatened, but many consumers do not take any chances.

The US Brand Retail Santé Brand has witnessed SPIKE orders by approximately 30 % in April, immediately after Trump revealed the US import taxes in most of the world.

“When the customs tariff ads have struck, customers became strategic on how to avoid the storm,” Santi Brand Chiani Wares, founder of the BBC told the BBC.

“Consumers are preparing against uncertainty.”

Director Winnie Chung says another K-PEUTY company, Senti Senti, has demanded more products since Trump began his identification threats.

This week I received alerts from suppliers who urge retail dealers to “storage before customs tariffs”.

Both retailers have said that the prices of K-Uaut products are likely to increase with high costs throughout the industry.

“Anyone tells you that prices will remain fixed during the next two years,” says Ms. Ware.

Economist Monsop me from the University of California San Diego says that prices must rise, especially for the smaller cosmetic products on platforms such as Amazon, who are working with small profit margins.

Despite the high prices, the global popularity of South Korean culture means that the K-PEAUTY products are likely to remain required in the United States.

“Ordinary buyers may be turned off at the highest price, but fans will not find an easy alternative.”

Mrs. Chung Agree. She believes that customers will want to buy K-Uau Products, but high prices may mean that they are buying fewer elements before.

High prices are unlikely to stop buying their favorite products.

“This depends on how much the price is, but so far, I am ready to pay more to buy the same products,” she says.

Eyal Victor Mamo, South Korea’s business adviser, says major brands are much better to accommodate the cost of customs tariffs than its smaller competitors.

These large companies will be able to avoid high prices for their customers because they have higher profit margins, he says.

Mr. Mamo adds that small companies that make their products in South Korea will struggle to maintain a cover cover.

“It will take some time to confirm that most of the goods sold in the short term have already been assigned to the current prices, but we will see it soon.”

In recent days, President Trump has concluded deals with Japan and the European Union, whose exports to the United States are subject to the same 15 % definitions such as South Korea.

This means that countries that are home to some of the world’s largest cosmetics brands face the same drawings as the K-Uauwill manufacturing.

Trump’s commercial policies are his ambition to see more goods made in America.

But we have not yet seen whether or not this will mean that American buyers turn into American cosmetics.

Mrs. Mac says she does not see US products is attractive alternatives.

“I am looking for American -made alternatives often, but I have not yet found any effective as I use. So I will not go to American products yet.”