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AAP
AAP
National

Daniel Dae Kim explores the phenomenal rise of the K-beauty industry in CNN Original Series K-Everything

Daniel Dae Kim CNN Irene Kim United States CNN International CNN Originals CNNcom South Korea CNN Films HBO Max

HONG KONG, May 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- South Korea has become a global cosmetics hub, with legions of fans aspiring to look like their flawless K-celebrity idols. In this episode of K-Everything, Daniel Dae Kim digs beneath the surface to learn why the desire to focus on appearance is deeply ingrained in Korean society, driven by rapid modernization and political shifts.

Daniel Dae Kim explores the phenomenal rise of the K-beauty industry in CNN Original Series K-Everything

From the Joseon era, Korea's last imperial dynasty, when women used rice water to brighten their skin, to today's multi-billion dollar market, the evolution of the K-beauty industry has been nothing short of remarkable. Kim takes a trip to cosmetics retail giant Olive Young to see the latest trends and learn how Korea overtook France to become the top exporter of cosmetics to the US in 2024.

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