{"id":246471,"date":"2026-02-10T23:04:41","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T14:04:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tenbizt.com\/en\/news\/uncategorized\/2026\/02\/10\/k-beauty-s-global-rise-safeguard-2\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T16:02:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T07:02:22","slug":"k-beauty-s-global-rise-safeguard-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tenbizt.com\/en\/news\/beauty\/2026\/02\/10\/k-beauty-s-global-rise-safeguard-2\/","title":{"rendered":"K-Beauty’s Global Rise: How to Safeguard Against Counterfeit Risks in 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
On February 10, discussions at the ‘National Assembly K-Beauty Forum’ took center stage at the National Assembly Library. The event featured key industry figures, including Kim Kyung-ok from the Korea Cosmetic Association, Shin Jae-ha of APR, Jeong Ji-eun of Codit, Lim Dong-woo from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Kim Ji-hoon from the Intellectual Property Office, and Kim Ji-yeon from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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While K-beauty has skyrocketed to become the world’s second-largest export industry, a dark cloud looms over its success: the growing threat of counterfeits. The Korea Customs Service reports a staggering 117,000 fake K-brand items seized last year, with cosmetics making up a whopping 35.8% (41,903 items) of the haul. This isn’t just a numbers game \u2013 it’s a potential reputation killer for the entire K-beauty scene.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The ‘National Assembly K-Beauty Forum’ in Seoul’s Yeouido district didn’t shy away from the elephant in the room. The hot topic? How e-commerce K-beauty brands can go global while keeping their trademarks safe from copycats.<\/p>\n

Forget about obvious fakes \u2013 today’s counterfeits are next-level deceptive. APR’s recent showcase of a genuine Mediheal ampoule next to its counterfeit twin proves just how far we’ve come from the days of “obvious knockoffs.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Industry insiders are sounding the alarm: these fakes might look legit, but what’s inside is a total mystery. We’re talking unknown ingredients from who-knows-where \u2013 a recipe for disaster when it comes to skincare.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

APR’s VP, Shin Jae-ha, didn’t mince words: “This isn’t just about protecting brands \u2013 it’s about keeping consumers safe.” Unlike fashion, where buyers might knowingly snag a knockoff, cosmetics customers usually think they’re getting the real deal. And while big players like APR are shelling out tens of millions of won monthly to fight fakes in China, there’s only so much they can do across borders.<\/p>\n

Here’s the kicker: most of these counterfeits are born in China, but by the time authorities catch on, the damage is done. Crack down in one country, and these operations just pop up somewhere else \u2013 it’s like a global game of whack-a-mole.<\/p>\n