Currently, Korea’s beauty industry is winning favor across the world because a variety of beauty items that can strengthen the advantage and personality of individuals are being released. Incheon stands at the center of Korea’s beauty industry. Let’s explore Incheon, the hottest spot for beauty in Korea, from the fostering of beauty in people to a variety of festivals on the theme of beauty.
K-Beauty & I-Beauty
The world is enthusiastic about K-Beauty from natural make-up which makes others wonder whether or not the person is wearing make-up, to cosmetics with intense covering capabilities, whitening effects, and anti-aging effects. As K-Beauty is in the limelight, Incheon is focusing on the beauty industry in order to become the center of K-Beauty and the bridge for overseas market entry. Incheon is promoting a variety of beauty businesses from the ‘Oull’, which is the co-brand of which Incheon is the only local government operating, the ‘K-Beauty & Cosmetics Show’, which marked the fourth year of the event, the Cheongna Beauty Festival, and the 2019 WANNA B Festival.
What is K-beauty?
Newly coined word created after Korea’s beauty industry is in the limelight across the world, referring to Korean make-up, styling, cosmetics, and so on.
Producing Beautiful People in Incheon
Lee Joo-mi : Department of Beauty Care, JEI University
As much as the beauty industry is winning enormous interest, universities are setting up a variety of beauty related departments. Among them, JEI University is supporting the dream of students through a variety of education programs and support. JEI University‘s Beauty Care Department teaches make-up, hair, and nail art and students can receive training to acquire related licenses at the life-long education center inside the school during after-school hours. Also, since practice is important, the school has spent a lot of money to build a practice room. Students can build up their skills in the luxurious interior and the bright lights around the mirrors. Other than the classes taking place inside the school, the school also teaches skills that can be used right away after employment through visits to companies and by inviting lecturers.
“While work-life balance is becoming everyone’s dream, people are very interested in how to use their time after work. I think the first thing that comes to my mind and something that everyone can do is beauty, like hair, make-up, nail art, and so on, like taking a look at yourself and embellishing yourself,” said Professor Joo-mi Lee, in charge of beauty care and make-up, expecting an even brighter future for the beauty industry. She says that people need a variety of training, industrial support, and networking regarding beauty. I hope we have more of a chance to share ideas about beauty and talk about our techniques and styles, letting others know about our beauty techniques. Her dream is that the students of JEI University join society and lead the beauty industry in Incheon.
Dreaming of Innovation in Cosmetics
Lee Ki-beom : Head of the Bio Industry Center, Incheon Technopark
Cosmetics are evolving gradually. There are cosmetics with the simple effect of covering blemishes and freckles and there are cosmetics with whitening and anti-aging functions. In tune with the circumstances, Incheon Technopark is developing new-concept cosmetics that combine bio and beauty.
Ki-beom Lee, Head of the Bio Industry Center, Incheon Technopark is seeking ways to combine new technologies of the bio industry with the cosmetics industry. “The demand for ‘Cosmeceutical Cosmetics’, which has skin whitening and regenerating effects and anti-oxidation effects, is increasing, and we need to develop new cosmetic products to satisfy customer needs. I think the fusion between the bio and beauty industries has unlimited growth potential for the birth of new cosmetics. When cosmetic research is completed, it can be established as a model that accomplished new commercialization in the early stages and contributed to job creation and local community development sufficiently.” He is focusing on cosmetics R&D, expecting the birth of an innovative product.
In addition, the Bio Industry Center of Incheon Technopark is promoting a variety of projects such as the operation of the Beauty Convergence Cluster, support for joint logistics for cosmetics, support for the clinical trial of cosmetics, marketing support for the co-brand, Oull, and so on. Also, it supports domestic cosmetics manufacturers located in Incheon and is planning a number of projects to develop the self-sufficiency and competitiveness of small and medium-sized beauty companies in a balanced manner.
<2019 American Cosmoprof Las Vegas International Beauty Fair>
TIP BOX
Cosmetics of Incheon’s Co-brand ‘Oull’
‘Oull’ is from the purely Korean word, ‘Oullida (to get along).’ It is the co-brand for cosmetics established by the Incheon government and cosmetics manufacturers within the jurisdiction. It was launched in October 2014 and is available in three Huetique stores operated by the Incheon government and an online store (search ‘Oull Cosmetics’ in the search window). It is enjoying the interest and trust of many customers based on the fact that the products are selected and verified directly by the government and is also winning great favor from overseas customers in China, Thailand, and Vietnam.
