What Hankook Cosmetics does

Hankook Cosmetics Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a South Korea-based, Korea-Stock-Exchange-listed OEM/ODM cosmetics manufacturer founded in 1962, headquartered in Seoul with a 53,000㎡ manufacturing complex in Eumseong, Chungcheongbuk-do and overseas subsidiaries in Bangkok and Shanghai. The company operates a "Beauty Full Solution" service that integrates brand planning, formulation R&D, production, and distribution consulting for cosmetics brand clients across all major categories — basic skincare, color cosmetics, functional cosmetics (anti-wrinkle, whitening, UV protection), men's, baby, body, perfume, and hair care — with MOQ-based pricing ranging from 5,000 to 50,000+ units per SKU under Full Service or F&A (customer-supplied materials) models.

Core technology is built on six decades of proprietary formulation work: hydrophilic cosmetics, low-acidic (subacid) cosmetics, biotechnology, liposome/multi-lamellar vesicle delivery, and tissue-cultured wild mountain ginseng extract. Forty-eight percent of developed ingredients are patented, including dual-functionality VCCE (3-O-Cetyl Ascorbic Acid, Korea's first approved anti-wrinkle/whitening ingredient), dealkaloid Ephedra extract, flexi-micellar structures, transfersome-based scalp compositions, and 2025-filed exosome technology from Camellia japonica-derived lactic acid bacteria. The company holds CGMP, ISO 22716, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications, plus a 2019 U.S. FDA facility audit (FEI# 3012656014), and patents spanning Korea, Japan, China, Indonesia, and five EU jurisdictions.

The business model is B2B direct sales to cosmetics brands, with FY2025 consolidated revenue of KRW 184,628M (~USD ~138M), operating income of KRW 32,884M, and net income of KRW 27,373M — a step up from KRW 67.8B in 2021 (CAGR ~28%). The customer base of 30+ named brands includes Clio, CJ Olive Young, Aekyung Industrial, APR, VT Cosmetics, and Nonfiction, served through website inquiry forms, direct enterprise field sales, and an inside-sales qualification layer. Historical technology collaborations with L'Oréal (1980–1995) and Lancôme (1981–1992) underpin the company's international credibility in K-beauty OEM/ODM.

Name

Hankook Cosmetics

Legal name

HANKOOK COSMETICS MANUFACTURING CO.,LTD.

Website

https://hkcosm.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Hankook Cosmetics Manufacturing is a South Korea-based OEM/ODM cosmetics manufacturer (founded 1962, KSE-listed) serving 30+ brand clients across skincare, color, functional, men's, baby, body, perfume, and hair care categories with proprietary patented ingredients and integrated consulting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

OEM/ODM Cosmetics Manufacturing

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561)

SIC

Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840), Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Bath & Shower Products (Soaps, Body Wash, Bath Additives) (CRADANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hair Care (Shampoo, Conditioner, Styling, Treatments) (CRADANAE), Hand & Body Care (Lotions, Creams, Body Oils) (CRADANAC)

Keywords

• OEM cosmetics manufacturing
• ODM beauty manufacturing
• Cosmetic formulation development
• Functional cosmetics production
• Private label cosmetics

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. OEM Manufacturing Services: Original Equipment Manufacturing of cosmetics — producing cosmetics formulated for and branded by client companies. This is the core revenue stream, with production facilities in Eumseong, Chungcheongbuk-do.
2. ODM (Original Design Manufacturing) Services: Full-service original design manufacturing including product conception, formulation development, and production under client's brand. The 'Beauty Full Solution' encompasses brand planning, R&D, and distribution support alongside manufacturing.
3. Total Consulting Services: Beyond manufacturing, the company provides integrated consulting covering market research, branding, planning, and distribution insights. This value-added service differentiates the company from pure-play OEMs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hankook Cosmetics Manufacturing operates as an OEM/ODM cosmetics contract manufacturer providing "Beauty Full Solution" — an integrated total consulting service that spans brand planning, R&D formulation, production, and distribution support. The company manufactures skin care, color cosmetics, functional cosmetics, men's, baby, body, perfume, and hair care products for both fledgling and established beauty brands, leveraging proprietary functional ingredients and novel textures. Manufacturing takes place at the Eumseong, Chungcheongbuk-do factory (approximately 53,000㎡ of land, 15,000㎡ floor area) with CGMP, ISO 22716, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and U.S. FDA certifications.

Product overview

Hankook Cosmetics Manufacturing operates as an OEM/ODM cosmetics manufacturer offering a unified platform of beauty product development and manufacturing services. The core offering is their Beauty Full Solution consulting service, which integrates brand development planning, R&D formulation, and manufacturing across eight main product categories: skin care (cosmetic water, creams, masks), color cosmetics (blusher, foundation, lip products), functional cosmetics (anti-wrinkle, whitening, UV protection), men's cosmetics, baby care, body care, perfumes, and hair care products. Supporting this platform are proprietary functional ingredients (Panax Ginseng Cell Culture Extract, VCCE, Ephedra Sinica Extract, various plant cell culture extracts) and novel texture technologies (liposome, multi-lamellar vesicle, transparent sun stick, water-drop). The company specializes in cushion compacts, sun sticks, and functional cosmetics with approved efficacy claims under Korean MFDS regulations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 한국화장품 (Hankook Cosmetics): Family brand/site connection under the Hankook Cosmetics Manufacturing group.
• 산심 (Sansim)
• 효움 (Hyoum)
• 시크릿네이처 (Secret Nature)
• 글로벌 에코 더샘 (Global Eco the Saem)

Quantifiable outcome

• 48.26% of developed ingredients are patented
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• L'Oréal Group (France)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical licensing and collaboration agreement with L'Oréal Group, France from 1980 to 1995. This 15-year international technology partnership was a landmark collaboration for a Korean cosmetics manufacturer in the early stages of the K-beauty industry.
• Lancôme (France)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical collaboration with Lancôme, France from 1981 to 1992. This 11-year partnership built on the earlier L'Oréal collaboration, further establishing Hankook's international technology credentials.
• Inspot Co., Ltd. (주)인스팟minorOthersWebsite and system management service provider. Website operations and maintenance are outsourced to Inspot Co., Ltd. as per the company's privacy policy disclosure.
• Korean Academic and Research InstitutionsmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive industry-academic-research network for developing creative and differentiated specialized technologies, including new concept cosmetic ingredient development using rare plants that are difficult to commercialize. The company was selected as an 'Excellent Enterprise Research Center' by the Ministry of Science and ICT in 2022.
• Leading Korean Hospital Dermatology DepartmentsmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with dermatology departments of leading Korean hospitals for safety evaluation and clinical efficacy testing of cosmetics. Skin irritability and clinical efficacy testing is conducted in cooperation with these institutions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• LG Household & Health Care (LG H&H): Diversified Korean personal-care/cosmetics conglomerate with in-house manufacturing. Operates own brands (Whoo, Su:m, etc.) while also producing for partners; a broader incumbent whose functional cosmetics R&D and manufacturing scale rival Hankook's specialty.
• Intercos: Global cosmetics contract manufacturer (Italy-based) supplying color cosmetics, skincare, and personal care to international brands. Comparable as a B2B OEM/ODM peer with multi-category production capability and global distribution footprint.
• Mana Products: US-based cosmetics contract manufacturer serving mass and prestige beauty brands with formulation, filling, and packaging. Comparable in B2B model and full-service manufacturing scope, with a strong US footprint relevant to Hankook's FDA-audited facility positioning.
• Amorepacific: Korea's largest beauty conglomerate with strong internal manufacturing capability. While primarily a brand owner, Amorepacific operates OEM/ODM and contract manufacturing as part of its broader portfolio, overlapping with Hankook on export markets and regulatory credentials.

Direct peers

• Cosmax: Korea's largest cosmetics OEM/ODM manufacturer with full-service formulation, manufacturing, and packaging. Closest direct competitor to Hankook Cosmetics, servicing global brand clients across skincare, color cosmetics, and functional cosmetics with comparable service depth.
• Cosmo Beauty (KCFT): Korean cosmetics contract manufacturer with full-service formulation and global export capability. Directly comparable OEM/ODM peer operating in skincare, color, and functional cosmetics for brand clients.
• Kolmar Korea: Major Korean cosmetics OEM/ODM manufacturer offering end-to-end development, manufacturing, and container/packaging production. Operates in the same category as Hankook with overlapping client roster and comparable technology breadth.

Emerging players

• Englewood Lab: US-based cosmetics and skincare contract manufacturer serving indie and emerging brands with end-to-end OEM/ODM services. Comparable in B2B full-service model and target segment (mid-market brand clients) though smaller scale.
• Cosmax BTI (Kolmar BNI sister brand portfolio): Cosmax BTI (formerly known as Bio-Spectrum) operates a Korea-based cosmetics R&D and manufacturing operation with strong biotech emphasis. Relevant emerging peer with overlapping functional ingredient and biotechnology formulation capabilities.

Regional players

• Hyundai Bioland (HB Technology): Korean biotech-cosmetics ingredient and OEM specialist with proprietary raw materials and functional ingredient focus. Relevant as a regional peer with overlapping functional ingredient capabilities (biotech, exosome-adjacent), targeting similar brand clients in Korea.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hankook Cosmetics