Chinese customers’ love for Korean cosmetics has recently been proven once again through official trade statistics.

The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) announced on Sept. 7 that China imported Korean makeup worth more than USD 370.8 million between January and July this year, showing a more than 250 percent rise over its imports of Korean makeup during the same period last year.

According to KITA, China's worldwide imports of cosmetics were worth more than USD 1.67 billion in that period. So Korea is the second largest source of makeup for Chinese consumers, following France, which exported more than USD 512.5 million worth of cosmetics to China during that time. Japan was the third largest cosmetics exporter to China, as Chinese shoppers bought USD 265.3 worth of Japanese makeup during the same time frame. They were followed by the U.S. and the U.K., which recorded makeup sales in China worth more than USD 194.4 million and 89.2 million, respectively.    



“Just as Korean soap operas, movies and pop songs are popular in China, Korean cosmetic goods are also selling well there as these products help make the skin look healthy and radiant,” said Park Heejung, a PR manager at LG Household & Health Care which produces popular cosmetic brands such as “The History of Whoo” and “O Hui.”

“The most popular items range from basic skin care lines and sun screens through to makeup products. We predict that our products' popularity will last into the future, as Korean cosmetics are meeting the various demands of the Chinese shopper,” said Park.

By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: The History of Whoo of LG Household & Health Care
arete@korea.kr