DAEGU, May 16 (Korea Bizwire) – Daegu, South Korea’s economic hub in the southeast, is gearing up to host the 11th edition of the Daegu International Beauty Expo, a three-day celebration from May 17 to 19 aimed at fostering synergy between the region’s beauty service sector and the nation’s prominent K-beauty industry.
According to city officials, this year’s expo at Daegu’s EXCO convention center will feature over 200 booths from 120 companies showcasing beauty products spanning cosmetics, nails, and haircare, providing platforms for business marketing.
The event will also host skill competitions related to the beauty services trade to nurture industry talent. Additionally, a dedicated Beauty College section will offer visitors hands-on experiences from participating universities specializing in beauty studies.
A key highlight is the expanded export consultation session. With government funding secured to support export promotion, the organizers have invited 34 overseas buyers this year, up from 24 last year.
This includes returning participants from China and Vietnam, as well as new potential markets like Australia, France, and Canada – all selected for their substantial export order records. The goal is to facilitate export opportunities for participating Korean companies.
Complementing the international focus, the expo will also host a domestic purchasing consultation involving 22 major Korean distributors, including CJ ENM, Lotte Homeshopping, Hyundai Homeshopping, Coupang, Tmon, and New Core Outlet. An informational session on joining China’s largest e-commerce platform, Alibaba’s Tmall Global, is also on the agenda.
Reflecting current beauty industry trends, the expo will spotlight emerging sectors like beauty tech incorporating IT advancements, customized cosmetics based on skin analysis, vegan beauty products free of animal-derived ingredients, and “clean beauty” emphasizing eco-friendly formulations and packaging.
A new feature this year is the Makeover Show, where on May 17, makeup artist Kwon Jun-woo, YouTuber Kim Miso with 1.35 million subscribers, and the Vietnamese influencer Yuna K-Review will showcase their skills.
On May 19, candidates for the 2024 Miss Daegu pageant will conduct live interviews while touring exhibitor booths to introduce their products, while the main stage will host a marketing seminar titled “Exploding Beauty Trends” alongside exhibitor presentations on new technologies and products.
The auxiliary events begin on opening day, May 17, with the Daegu Mayor’s Cup Hair Competition coinciding with the inauguration hair show.
May 18 will see the 2nd K-Nail Skills Competition, followed by the 14th Daegu Mayor’s Cup International Skin Beauty Competition on May 19.
These competitions are expected to draw over 1,100 participants from across the nation, including beauty industry professionals and students from high schools and universities.
The Beauty College section, which featured three universities last year, has expanded to eight participating institutions in 2023.
Visitors can experience personal color analysis, hair and scalp diagnosis, makeup, tattoo stickers, and nail art demonstrations while learning about the universities’ beauty-related programs.
A job consultation center for beauty majors hosted by the city of Daegu will also be available.
“We anticipate this event, dedicated to innovation and growth in the beauty industry, will serve as a platform for participating companies and professionals to explore new markets and stay abreast of the latest beauty trends through enriching exchanges,” said Kim Seon-jo, Vice Mayor of Daegu.
Image credit: Daegu City, Exco / photonews@koreabizwire.com
