JEJU-DO < invest Korea

According to Newsis,

(SEOUL = Newsis) Reporter Kang Eun-jung — The Ministry of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Startups (MSS) has selected Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and Jeju Island as new export hubs for K-beauty. The ministry plans to invest KRW 3 billion (approximately USD 2.25 million) in collaboration with local governments and private consortia to foster both regions into key gateways for K-beauty's global expansion.

The MSS announced on August 20 that Gyeongju and Jeju were chosen as support targets for the "2026 K-Beauty Export Hub Fostering Project."

The initiative combines central and local government support policies with private infrastructure and expertise to develop domestic regions favored by foreign tourists into global outposts for K-beauty. A budget of KRW 3 billion has been allocated as part of the government's 15 Super-Innovation Projects, which aim to secure global hyper-gap competitiveness in core industrial sectors.

The ministry selected the regions through an open call. According to the MSS, Gyeongju and Jeju stand out as representative tourist destinations capable of showcasing the excellence of K-beauty abroad. Both regions feature rich natural resources for high-quality ingredients, research and production facilities for product development and manufacturing, and dedicated spaces for promotion and marketing. The selected areas will receive facilities, specialized personnel, and funding for establishing export hub infrastructure, operating pop-up stores and experience centers, and hosting consultations with export and investment buyers.

"We will expand policy support in collaboration with relevant organizations so that these K-beauty export hubs contribute to diversifying global expansion strategies for K-beauty while boosting the economic vitality of surrounding local commercial districts," said Shim Jae-yoon, Director General for Global Growth Policy at the MSS.

◎ NEWSIS, eunduck@newsis.com



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Source Text

Source: Newsis (August 20, 2026)

** This article was translated from Korean.