OLIVE YOUNG
OLIVE YOUNG is South Korea's dominant health and beauty retailer, operating 1,390+ stores domestically and expanding into the US and Europe through owned retail, a Sephora partnership, and a California distribution center, serving consumers of Korean beauty and wellness products.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersYongsan, South Korea
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What OLIVE YOUNG does
OLIVE YOUNG is the dominant health and beauty retail chain in South Korea, established in 1999 and wholly owned by CJ Group. The company operates more than 1,390 physical stores domestically and runs a brand incubation model that has produced over 100 brands each generating more than 10 billion won in annual sales, supported by the data-driven Olive Young Awards. The product assortment spans skincare, makeup, hair care, bath and body, beauty accessories, health and wellness, and food and beverages, anchored by partner brands (Purito Seoul, THOME, medicube, Centallian24) and private-label brands (Bioheal Boh, Bringgreen, Colorgram). The company also operates the O.Y MEMBERS loyalty program, a global mobile app, a US e-commerce storefront, and an affiliate program.
The technology stack centers on a retail platform integrating loyalty (O.Y MEMBERS), mobile commerce, and in-store digital experiences such as skin analysis and glow bars. Distribution is multi-channel: owned retail in Korea, an expanding US brick-and-mortar footprint (Pasadena and Westfield Century City, both opened 2026), a North American distribution center in Bloomington, California (3,600 sqm), a K-Beauty Zone partnership with LVMH's Sephora across 650+ North American stores, and a European wholesale agreement with Poland-based Gabona. The company has also been integrated as a partner in Kakao's Kakao Tools AI agent service within ChatGPT for Kakao.
Revenue is generated primarily through one-time retail product sales across owned physical and digital channels, supplemented by marketplace/commission income from brand incubation and partner brands, professional services from international distribution and logistics support for Korean brands entering new markets, and transaction-fee style revenue from platform integrations. Pricing varies by product category with promotional mechanics including flash sales (e.g., up to 30% off via code FLASH30) and membership-based benefits. FY2024-2025 annual sales were 4.79 trillion won (~$3.3B USD), with Q3 2025 revenue of approximately $1.07B; foreign tourist spending exceeded 1 trillion won.
OLIVE YOUNG firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- OLIVE YOUNG
- Legal name
- CJ Olive Young USA Inc.
- Website
- https://www.oliveyoung.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- OLIVE YOUNG is South Korea's dominant health and beauty retailer, operating 1,390+ stores domestically and expanding into the US and Europe through owned retail, a Sephora partnership, and a California distribution center, serving consumers of Korean beauty and wellness products.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
OLIVE YOUNG industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Beauty Retail
- NAICS
- Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120), Health and Personal Care Retailers (4561)
- SIC
- Retail-Grocery Stores (5411)
- akta.pro primary industry
- K-Beauty/J-Beauty & Imported Beauty Distribution (CRAOAEAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Health Food & Supplement Stores (CRAHAEAC)
Keywords
Where OLIVE YOUNG is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Yongsan
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices5 records
Markets served
OLIVE YOUNG business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail Product Sales: Core retail revenue from selling K-beauty and lifestyle products through owned brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce platforms. Company operates over 1,390 stores in South Korea with expansion to US market.
- Brand Incubation & Commission: Revenue model centered on developing and incubating Korean beauty brands, with over 100 brands achieving annual sales exceeding 10 billion won each. Generates commission from private-label and partner brands.
- Platform Partnership Revenue: Revenue from integration partnerships such as Kakao Tools AI agent service, where Olive Young services are accessible through third-party platforms.
- International Distribution Services: Logistics and distribution services for Korean beauty brands entering the American market, including customs handling, inventory management, and delivery support from the Bloomington, California distribution center.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | O.Y MEMBERS Benefits |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Flash Sale Promotions |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Affiliate Program |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
OLIVE YOUNG product offering
Product offeringCore offering
OLIVE YOUNG is South Korea's dominant specialty beauty retailer, selling K-beauty skincare, makeup, hair care, bath and body, beauty accessories, health and wellness, and food and beverages through more than 1,390 owned stores in South Korea, an expanding U.S. store and e-commerce footprint, and a mobile app. The company curates 100+ third-party brands with annual sales exceeding 10 billion won each and operates private-label brands (Bioheal Boh, Bringgreen, Colorgram), in-store skin analysis and glow bar experiences, and the O.Y MEMBERS loyalty program. International expansion is executed through owned retail (Pasadena, Westfield Century City), wholesale via Sephora's 650+ North American stores, and the Gabona partnership in Europe.
Product overview
Olive Young is a South Korean beauty and lifestyle retailer offering a comprehensive omnichannel platform consisting of physical retail stores (over 1,380 stores in South Korea and expanding U.S. presence), a dedicated e-commerce platform (us.oliveyoung.com), and a mobile application. The product portfolio includes diverse categories spanning Skincare, Makeup, Hair Care, Bath & Body, Beauty Accessories, Health & Wellness, and Food & Beverages. The company operates private-label brands including Bioheal Boh, Bringgreen, and Colorgram, while also featuring partner brands like THOME, medicube, Centallian24, Purito Seoul, Unove, Labo-H, and Mis-en-scene. In-store services include skin analysis and glow bars, complemented by loyalty programs (O.Y MEMBERS) and an affiliate program. The company has partnered with Sephora to launch K-Beauty Zones in 650 North American stores and integrates with Kakao Tools for AI-powered service access.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- O.Y MEMBERS Loyalty Program
- Olive Young Global App Mobile application for iOS and Android that lets customers browse and purchase K-beauty products, manage O.Y MEMBERS membership, and access exclusive promotional offers across global markets.
- In-Store Skin Analysis Service Interactive in-store skin analysis service available at U.S. Olive Young retail locations that helps customers identify their skin type and receive personalized skincare product recommendations.
- Glow Bars Interactive in-store discovery experience that lets customers try and sample products hands-on as part of Olive Young's experiential shopping format.
- Olive Young US E-commerce Platform Direct-to-consumer online storefront at us.oliveyoung.com offering K-beauty products with online-exclusive deals, promotional campaigns, and O.Y MEMBERS benefits.
- Olive Young Affiliate Program Affiliate marketing program that allows third-party partners to earn commissions on sales referred through tracked links to Olive Young's e-commerce platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- Annual sales of 4.79 trillion won in fiscal 2024-2025
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use OLIVE YOUNG
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
OLIVE YOUNG technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
OLIVE YOUNG partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Chamberlain CoffeeminorLimited-time collaboration with Chamberlain Coffee for opening promotions at the Westfield Century City store launch. Partnership drove foot traffic and media attention during the grand opening event.
- Purito SeoulcoreKorean skincare brand entry into OLIVE YOUNG US retail with new store opening in Pasadena. Products like Mighty Bamboo Panthenol Cream (2025 Olive Young Awards Rookie Category winner) placed in physical retail for shoppers to test before purchasing.
- Sephora (LVMH)coreStrategic partnership with LVMH's Sephora to launch a K-Beauty Zone on Sephora's global channels. Products will be placed in 650 North American stores, providing Olive Young brands access to established beauty retail distribution network and broad consumer base.
- GabonacorePartnership with Poland-based Gabona to distribute private-label K-beauty brands (Bioheal Boh, Bringgreen, Colorgram) across European markets, beginning in Poland before expanding further. Supports Olive Young's globalization strategy.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights6 records
OLIVE YOUNG competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sephora: LVMH-owned global beauty retailer and Olive Young's primary North American distribution partner through the K-Beauty Zone. Directly comparable as a multi-brand beauty specialty retailer with curated assortments, loyalty programs, and experiential in-store services.
- Ulta Beauty: Largest US beauty specialty retailer operating 1,400+ stores. Direct competitor for US beauty consumer wallet share, with a comparable multi-category model (skincare, makeup, hair, wellness) and strong loyalty program that Olive Young's US expansion must contend with.
- Soko Glam: US-based K-Beauty specialty retailer and content platform founded by Charlotte Cho. Directly comparable as a curated K-Beauty discovery-to-purchase destination targeting American consumers interested in Korean skincare routines.
- Stylevana: Online Asian beauty and K-Beauty e-commerce retailer. Directly comparable as a multi-brand Asian beauty marketplace serving international consumers seeking Korean and Japanese skincare products.
- Glossier: US-based digitally-native beauty brand and retailer with experiential physical stores. Comparable as a cult beauty brand retailer with discovery-led merchandising, though Olive Young operates across hundreds of partner brands rather than owned labels.
- YesStyle: Hong Kong-based online retailer specializing in Asian beauty and K-Beauty products. Directly comparable as an international K-Beauty multi-brand destination competing for the same global Korean beauty consumer.
- Aritaum: Amorepacific's multi-brand K-Beauty retail chain in South Korea, Olive Young's principal domestic competitor. Operates a similar multi-brand beauty specialty store model featuring both private-label and partner brands.
Emerging players
- Birchbox: US-based beauty discovery retailer with subscription and e-commerce offerings. Comparable as a multi-brand beauty discovery platform, though smaller in scale and focused on subscription-led sampling.
Broad incumbents
- Amazon Beauty: Amazon's broad beauty storefront selling K-Beauty and other beauty brands at scale. Comparable as a large incumbent channel for K-Beauty product discovery and purchase, though without the curated experiential retail focus of Olive Young.
Regional players
- Musinsa: South Korea's largest fashion and lifestyle platform, also integrated into Kakao Tools alongside Olive Young. Comparable as a leading Korean consumer platform with marketplace and brand incubation capabilities, though primarily in fashion rather than beauty.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
OLIVE YOUNG financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
OLIVE YOUNG leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
OLIVE YOUNG subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
OLIVE YOUNG funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
OLIVE YOUNG M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about OLIVE YOUNG
What does OLIVE YOUNG do?
OLIVE YOUNG is South Korea's dominant specialty beauty retailer, selling K-beauty skincare, makeup, hair care, bath and body, beauty accessories, health and wellness, and food and beverages through more than 1,390 owned stores in South Korea, an expanding U.S. store and e-commerce footprint, and a mobile app. The company curates 100+ third-party brands with annual sales exceeding 10 billion won each and operates private-label brands (Bioheal Boh, Bringgreen, Colorgram), in-store skin analysis and glow bar experiences, and the O.Y MEMBERS loyalty program. International expansion is executed through owned retail (Pasadena, Westfield Century City), wholesale via Sephora's 650+ North American stores, and the Gabona partnership in Europe.
Is OLIVE YOUNG a public or private company?
OLIVE YOUNG is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was OLIVE YOUNG founded?
OLIVE YOUNG was founded in -1. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is OLIVE YOUNG based?
OLIVE YOUNG is headquartered in Yongsan, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does OLIVE YOUNG make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Retail Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are brand Incubation & Commission, platform Partnership Revenue and international Distribution Services.
Who are OLIVE YOUNG's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Soko Glam, Stylevana, Glossier, YesStyle and Aritaum. Birchbox is listed as an emerging player. Amazon Beauty is listed as a broad incumbent. Musinsa is listed as a regional player.
Does OLIVE YOUNG have an API?
No public API is recorded for OLIVE YOUNG.
What industry is OLIVE YOUNG in?
OLIVE YOUNG's product category is Specialty Beauty Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAOAEAN, K-Beauty/J-Beauty & Imported Beauty Distribution, with a secondary code of CRAHAEAC, Health Food & Supplement Stores. Its NAICS code is 456120 and its SIC code is 5411.