SMEs and Startups Minister Lee Soyoung Visits Kolmar Korea's Sejong Plant

Minister Lee Soyoung's First Visit to a Private Company Since Taking OfficeKolmar Korea to Grow Alongside Small and Indie Brands

Kolmar Korea, a cosmetics original development and manufacturing (ODM) company, said on October 18 that Minister of SMEs and Startups Lee Soyoung visited its Sejong plant on October 16, toured the cosmetics production facilities and heard about challenges facing the industry. It was the minister's first visit to a private company since taking office.

During the visit, Lee toured the plant's main production facilities in Jeonui-myeon, Sejong City, before holding a meeting with Kolmar Korea CEO Choi Hyungyu and others. The participants discussed policy directions and support measures to strengthen the competitiveness of cosmetics companies.

Lee Soyoung, Minister of SMEs and Startups (second from right), tours the production facilities with Kolmar Korea CEO Choi Hyungyu (far right) during a visit to Kolmar Korea's Sejong plant on the 16th. Provided by Kolmar Korea.

Kolmar Korea supports small and indie brands through every stage, from product development and production to quality control and overseas expansion. Riding the growth of K-beauty, small and medium-sized enterprise exports hit a record high, surpassing $64 billion in the first half of this year. Cosmetics exports totaled $5.07 billion, up 30.7% from the same period a year earlier, making cosmetics the top export category among small and medium-sized enterprises. In the first half of this year, basic cosmetics accounted for $5.48 billion, or 74.7%, of domestic cosmetics exports.

The Sejong plant is a key production base for Kolmar Korea's sunscreens and skincare products, with an annual production capacity of 890 million units. Skincare and sun care account for 50% and 26%, respectively, of Kolmar Korea's revenue.

Kolmar Korea plans to expand production capacity at the Sejong plant to meet overseas demand for Korean-made cosmetics. Earlier this year, it was selected as a company returning production to Korea after closing its Beijing plant in China and expanding the Sejong plant.

Lee Soyoung, Minister of SMEs and Startups, left, poses for a commemorative photo with Kolmar Korea CEO Choi Hyungyu, right, during a visit to the company’s Sejong plant on the 16th. Photo courtesy of Kolmar Korea.

The meeting was attended by Minister of SMEs and Startups Lee Soyoung, Director Shim Jaeyoon and Daejeon-Sejong Regional Office of SMEs and Startups chief Park Seungrok. Kolmar Korea was represented by CEO Choi Hyungyu, Head of Production Lee Youngju and Sejong Plant Manager Kim Younghyun.

CEO Choi said, "We will do our utmost to help small and indie brands strengthen their competitiveness in overseas markets," adding, "We will continue to work closely with our clients and contribute to the growth of K-beauty."

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