SEOUL — The employment landscape within South Korea’s beauty industry is undergoing a rapid transformation, mirroring the changing dynamics of its industrial ecosystem. While the workforce at the country’s two traditional cosmetics giants has declined significantly over the past year, original development manufacturing (ODM) firms and beauty-tech companies are emerging as the primary drivers of job creation.

According to an analysis of National Pension Service data by the Electronic Times on June 17, employment trends among major domestic beauty companies—LG Household & Health Care, Amorepacific, Kolmar Korea, Cosmax, and APR—show a clear divergence.

Shift from Big Brands to ODM Powerhouses Over the past year (March 2025 to March 2026), the combined workforce at Kolmar Korea, Cosmax, and APR increased by 356. Specifically, Kolmar Korea added 201 employees, while Cosmax and APR saw increases of 48 and 107, respectively.

In contrast, traditional heavyweights are downsizing. The number of employees at LG Household & Health Care dropped by 9.2% from 4,354 to 3,953, and Amorepacific saw its workforce shrink from 4,518 to 4,341. Combined, these two firms have lost 578 positions in just one year.

Fueling Growth Through Innovation and Exports The rise of independent beauty brands, bolstered by new retail channels like Olive Young and Daiso, has significantly increased the workload for ODM giants. Kolmar Korea reported an 8.1% increase in R&D personnel recruitment last year, citing a need to enhance global competitiveness and meet the innovative demands of client brands.

Meanwhile, APR, a leader in the beauty-tech sector, has seen its workforce surge by 19.3% to 661 employees. This growth is largely attributed to the company's aggressive expansion into North American markets, where its beauty devices are gaining traction.

Structural Pivot Tied to Performance This shift in employment mirrors the structural transition of the firms' financial performance. Kolmar Korea and Cosmax both achieved record-high quarterly performances in Q1, driven by strong sunscreen sales and increased exports. APR also posted stellar results, with revenue and operating profit soaring by 123% and 174%, respectively.

“We are strengthening our expertise across the entire value chain—from R&D to production, marketing, and operations—to build a foundation for mid-to-long-term growth in line with our rapid expansion,” an official from APR stated.

As K-beauty continues to evolve from a market dominated by large-scale brands to one supported by agile manufacturing and technological innovation, the industry’s job market is expected to remain firmly in favor of these high-growth ODM and beauty-tech firms.