K-beauty breaks boundaries to offer broader solutions

Korean beauty companies are expanding from cosmetics into beauty devices and medical aesthetics to become comprehensive beauty solution providers. APR is preparing focused-ultrasound and polynucleotide skin-booster devices, while Amorepacific and PharmaResearch are pursuing device partnerships and broader medical-aesthetic offerings. Energy-based device makers including Wontech and Classys are also entering the home-beauty market. Overseas expansion faces strict regulatory standards, distributor requirements and higher operating costs.

APR plans to launch a focused-ultrasound device and a polynucleotide-based skin booster, with the latter already cleared as a Class II medical device and approved for export by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

APR began exporting its polynucleotide skin booster in the second quarter and added Japan and the Middle East as destinations in the third quarter.

APR plans to launch the skin booster in Korea in 2028 after obtaining Class IV clearance, a process the company expects to take one and a half years.

Amorepacific acquired a 49.5 percent stake in Viol Medical for 80 billion won ($60 million) after signing a memorandum to jointly develop new devices.

APR will assign its Gasan plant in western Seoul to energy-based devices, while two Pyeongtaek plants will specialize in home beauty devices and skin boosters.

Published Oct 6, 2026 2:50 pm KST

Updated Oct 6, 2026 3:24 pm KST

APR, Amorepacific, PharmaResearch expand beyond cosmetics into medical aesthetics

APR's manufacturing plant for skin booster production in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province / Courtesy of APR

Beauty companies in Korea are increasingly expanding beyond their traditional businesses into beauty devices, energy-based devices and medical aesthetics as they seek to become comprehensive beauty solution providers.

APR, which operates the cosmetics brand Medicube and home beauty device label AGE-R, has begun expanding into medical devices.

“For the new medical device businesses, approval procedures for products and manufacturing facilities are currently underway, and the commercial launch date will be determined based on the acquisition of relevant approvals and the progress of commercialization preparations," the company said in its half-year report.

APR’s new skin booster under its Medicube brand / Courtesy of APR

APR is preparing to launch new medical devices, including an energy-based device using focused ultrasound technology and a skin booster using polynucleotide. During a conference call in August, the company said the focused-ultrasound device had recently obtained domestic approval and could be launched as early as late this year.

The company’s polynucleotide-based skin booster has already received Class II medical device clearance and export approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. It began exporting the product in the second quarter and added Japan and the Middle East to its export destinations in the third quarter.

The company said it will launch the product here in 2028 after acquiring a Class IV clearance from the ministry, which is expected to take a year and half.

APR is also restructuring its domestic manufacturing operations to support the new businesses. Its Gasan plant in western Seoul will focus on energy-based devices, while two plants in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, will specialize in home beauty devices and skin boosters, respectively.

Amorepacific, which operates 15 cosmetic brands, signed a memorandum of understanding with skin care device developer Viol Medical earlier this year to jointly develop new devices. It subsequently acquired a 49.5 percent stake in Viol Medical for 80 billion won ($60 million). In July, Amorepacific signed another partnership with Higher Corp., agreeing to combine its skin care analysis technology with Higher’s device development capabilities.

K-pop artist Kim Se-jeong in a promotional image for PharmaResearch's Rejuran / Screen capture from PharmaResearch's website

PharmaResearch, which operates skin booster brand Rejuran, currently plans to launch a new device by this year and offer broader solutions to aestheticians using fillers and botox. CEO Sohn Ji-hoon said he is looking to expand the company via merger or acquisition to grow the company to a total medical aesthetic firm.

Energy-based device developers like Wontech, which operates radio frequency device Oligio, and Classys have also begun expanding to home beauty devices, further blurring the boundaries between professional medical aesthetics and at-home beauty care.

“As interest in aging well grows due to rising incomes and longer life expectancy, K-beauty companies that have secured capital from strong exports and witnessed a surge in demand for aesthetic medical services by foreign tourists are expanding their businesses based on their independent capabilities and expertise,” an APR official said.

“Companies that successfully combine cosmetics, energy-based devices and medical devices will secure a leading position in the future beauty industry.”

There are, however, hurdles to expanding these business overseas.

Industry experts say the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Europe's CE Medical Device Regulation have particularly high regulatory approval standards for medical devices.

Companies also need local distributors with established networks of medical clinics and the ability to provide after-sales service for devices, adding further costs and operational challenges.

韩国美容公司正从化妆品领域拓展至美容仪器和医学美容领域，力求成为综合美容解决方案提供商。爱茉莉太平洋集团（APR）正在研发聚焦超声和多核苷酸皮肤强化仪器，而爱茉莉太平洋和医药研究公司（PharmaResearch）则在寻求仪器合作，并拓展更广泛的医学美容产品线。包括Wontech和Classys在内的能量型仪器制造商也正进军家用美容市场。海外扩张面临着严格的监管标准、分销商要求以及更高的运营成本。

APR计划推出一款聚焦超声设备和一款基于多核苷酸的皮肤增强剂，其中后者已被认定为II类医疗器械，并已获得食品药品安全部的出口批准。

APR于第二季度开始出口其多核苷酸皮肤增强剂，并在第三季度将日本和中东地区列为出口目的地。

APR计划在获得IV类药物许可后，于2028年在韩国推出这款皮肤强化剂，该公司预计这一过程需要一年半的时间。

爱茉莉太平洋集团斥资 800 亿韩元（约合 6000 万美元）收购了 Viol Medical 49.5% 的股份，此前双方签署了一份备忘录，共同开发新设备。

APR 将把位于首尔西部的加山工厂用于生产能源型设备，而平泽的两家工厂将专门生产家用美容设备和皮肤强化剂。

发布于2026年10月6日下午2:50（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月6日下午3:24（韩国标准时间）

APR、爱茉莉太平洋、PharmaResearch的业务范围已从化妆品扩展到医疗美容领域。

APR位于京畿道平泽市的皮肤强化剂生产工厂 / 图片由APR提供

韩国美容公司正不断拓展业务范围，从传统业务扩展到美容仪器、能量型仪器和医学美容领域，力求成为综合美容解决方案提供商。

旗下拥有化妆品品牌 Medicube 和家用美容设备品牌 AGE-R 的 APR 公司已开始向医疗器械领域扩张。

该公司在半年报中表示：“对于新的医疗器械业务，产品和生产设施的审批程序目前正在进行中，商业上市日期将根据相关审批的获得情况和商业化准备工作的进展情况来确定。”

APR旗下Medicube品牌推出的全新肌肤强化剂 / 图片由APR提供

APR公司正准备推出一系列新型医疗器械，包括一款采用聚焦超声技术的能量型设备和一款采用多核苷酸技术的皮肤增效剂。该公司在8月份的电话会议上表示，这款聚焦超声设备近期已获得国内批准，最早可能于今年年底上市。

该公司研发的基于多核苷酸的皮肤增效剂已获得日本食品药品安全部的二类医疗器械认证和出口许可。该产品于第二季度开始出口，并在第三季度新增了日本和中东市场。

该公司表示，在获得该部颁发的 IV 类许可证后，将于 2028 年在印度推出该产品，预计这需要一年半的时间。

为了支持新业务，APR也在调整其国内生产运营。位于首尔西部加山的工厂将专注于能量型设备，而位于京畿道平泽的两家工厂将分别专门生产家用美容设备和皮肤强化产品。

旗下拥有15个化妆品品牌的爱茉莉太平洋集团（Amorepacific）今年早些时候与护肤设备开发商Viol Medical签署了合作备忘录，共同开发新型设备。随后，爱茉莉太平洋以800亿韩元（约合6000万美元）的价格收购了Viol Medical 49.5%的股份。今年7月，爱茉莉太平洋又与Higher Corp.签署了另一项合作协议，双方同意将爱茉莉太平洋的护肤分析技术与Higher的设备开发能力相结合。

韩国流行歌手金世正为PharmaResearch公司的产品Rejuran拍摄的宣传照 / 图片来自PharmaResearch网站

旗下拥有皮肤填充剂品牌Rejuran的PharmaResearch公司，目前计划在今年推出一款新设备，并为使用填充剂和肉毒杆菌的美容师提供更广泛的解决方案。首席执行官孙智勋表示，他正在寻求通过并购来扩张公司，将其发展成为一家综合性的医疗美容公司。

像 Wontech（生产射频设备 Oligio）和 Classys 这样的能量型设备开发商也开始向家用美容设备领域扩张，进一步模糊了专业医疗美容和家庭美容护理之间的界限。

“随着收入增长和预期寿命延长，人们对健康老龄化的关注度日益提高，而那些凭借强劲的出口获得资金，并目睹外国游客对医美服务需求激增的韩国美容公司，正凭借自身的独立能力和专业知识拓展业务，”一位亚太地区官员表示。

“成功将化妆品、能量型设备和医疗器械相结合的公司，将在未来的美容行业中占据领先地位。”

然而，将这些业务拓展到海外也存在一些障碍。

业内专家表示，美国食品药品监督管理局和欧洲CE医疗器械法规对医疗器械的监管审批标准特别高。

公司还需要拥有成熟医疗诊所网络和提供设备售后服务能力的本地分销商，这会增加成本和运营挑战。