Opening Doors for Global Expansion of K-Beauty SMEs by 2026… Integrated Support for Licensing and Digital Marketing
By 2026, a program supporting foreign licensing acquisition and global digital marketing for small and medium-sized cosmetics and beauty device enterprises will begin. The integrated program, led by the Korea Cosmetic Industry Institute, is expected to empower numerous companies with real export capabilities.
This initiative addresses the high entry barriers in foreign certification and the lack of tailored marketing content for SMEs, focusing on major markets such as the USA, EU, and China. Supported companies will undergo a rigorous preparation process and receive stage-wise consulting until November.
Step-by-Step Operation of ‘Overseas Cosmetics Licensing Consulting’
The Korea Cosmetic Industry Institute is once again expanding its ‘Overseas Cosmetics Licensing Consulting’ project to support domestic SMEs preparing to export. It assists throughout the entire process, from helping with the complex certification procedures of key countries to actual product registration.
This project aims for licensing acquisition for a total of 30 products, including 15 items under the US MoCRA, 10 under the EU CPNP, and 5 under China NMPA. Companies can apply for registration by country for each item, with the option for different licenses for the same item by country.
Noteworthy is the cumulative success since 2020, with over 200 items registered, including 88 in China, 46 in Europe, 26 in Japan, 35 in the USA, and 5 in Vietnam.
“Since 2020, we have completed registration for 88 NMPA products in China, 46 CPNP products in Europe, and 35 MoCRA products in the USA.”
Once a company applies and is selected, it goes through a beneficiary selection process, which spans from March to November and includes preparing documentation, sample testing, and final evaluation.
Supporting Digital Content-Focused ‘Global Platform Marketing’
The digital marketing support initiative extends beyond single-item cosmetics, embracing beauty devices as well. This support program provides integrated consulting, which includes creating content tailored to exporting countries’ platforms and developing marketing strategies.
Targeting markets in the USA, China, Japan, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, it is designed to specify target countries and content formats. Selected companies will immediately receive digital content usable across SNS and e-commerce channels after preliminary consulting.
Experts will accompany every step of concept design, message construction, content calendar creation, and actual uploads, coupled with distribution strategies to maximize promotional effect.
“The content can be directly uploaded to SNS or e-commerce platforms operated by participating companies to promote products and boost sales.”
This process is executed from March to November after selecting companies, with the actual deliverables directly contributing to import-export reporting.
Specific Benefits for Cosmetic Companies
Both initiatives mandate ‘SME Certification’ and ‘Cosmetics Legal Registration’ as prerequisites. Eligible companies can apply with minimal documentation, with priority given to those already holding global quality certifications such as CGMP or ISO22716.
For beauty device companies, different criteria apply, including mandatory registration of beauty device types on the business registration certificate and compliance with radio wave and electrical product safety laws, including KC certification.
The application deadlines differ: January 30 for the licensing project and February 27 for the digital marketing project. Applications are easily submitted online, with opportunities to participate in multiple countries’ licensing or marketing content projects.
Summary of Actual Application Timeline and Processes
Both programs are fully initiated from March. The timeline is as follows:
- Overseas Cosmetics Licensing Consulting:
Application deadline January 30 (Fri) → beneficiary selection in February → licensing procedures from March to November - Global Digital Marketing Support:
Application deadline February 27 (Fri) → beneficiary selection and content planning in March → marketing content creation and execution until November
Simultaneous participation in both programs is possible, offering a prime chance to enhance product competitiveness through differentiated global strategies.
Information on Host Organizations and Additional Details
The support project is led by the Korea Cosmetic Industry Institute, with applications available through the online platform ‘Allcos.’ Including basic corporate documentation alongside export experience or quality certification in applications is advantageous.
This support aims to not only secure individual licensing or marketing concepts but also provide a cornerstone for long-term export strategies. Companies can set up a structural setting of licensing acquisition → market expansion → customer reach.
Providing Country-Specific Strategy Guides for Licensing
Increased safety regulations have made many SMEs feel limited in the early export stages. This project offers a guide analyzing the characteristics of licensing processes to overcome these hurdles.
The US MoCRA requires disclosure of ingredient compositions and manufacturing facility information, while the EU CPNP emphasizes labeling and responsibility seller systems. China’s NMPA, under increasingly stringent legislations, presents ingredient stability and sample analysis standards.
Thus, companies receive extensive pre-training to devise tailored strategies following country-specific licensing roadmaps rather than simple document submissions.
This Is How the Digital Marketing Strategy Is Structured
Creating digital content goes beyond just ‘advertising’ to focus on strengthening actual connections with target customers. Various formats and content, such as real user reviews, product comparisons, story-based content, and AI-based translation videos, differ by country and platform.
Experts are assigned to all planning, production, and execution phases, allowing seamless progress even without sufficient internal resources. Trend analysis by each SNS channel, hashtag management, and ad settings are also included.
“The core of the strategy is content conversion into direct sales, not mere promotion.”
This process especially benefits beauty device enterprises, supporting intuitive marketing structures such as video explanations of product usage and real-time solutions by collaborating with local online partners.
Two Comprehensive Supports in One Opportunity
Though consisting of two key pillars, the 2026 program is organically designed to function as a single process. One helps products enter the market (licensing), while the other helps them succeed within it (marketing).
By utilizing this initiative, SMEs can realize global brand-like systematic export strategies. Although each performs independently, when linked concurrently, the synergy maximizes.
Closing
For small and medium-sized cosmetics and beauty device enterprises considering overseas market entry, 2026 may serve as a crucial turning point. This support program offers an integrated opportunity with tangible results from licensing acquisition to marketing execution, and only prepared companies can seize this opportunity.
This business participation is a beneficial opportunity for small cosmetics enterprises to achieve substantial growth in the global market. provides reliable support to help businesses succeed in this field.
