Cosmetics to Europe

[Anchor Lead]

Korean cosmetics are enjoying more popularity in Europe than ever. Korean cosmetics exports to Italy have surged 3200 percent over the past five years.

[Pkg]

Europe has the largest cosmetics market in the world. Many of the leading cosmetic products in the European market are Korean. Young Europeans associate Korea not with kimchi, but with cosmetics. Exports of Korean cosmetics to Europe have surged noticeably. Over the past five years, they grew by a factor of six in France and Spain, and surged 32-fold in Italy. Overall, they have grown by tenfold over the past seven years. Made with functional ingredients and cost-effective, Korean cosmetic products successfully address the needs of European consumers, who prefer affordable yet high-quality products because of the economic recession.

[Soundbite] Hong Su-ji(Marketing Staff at Cosmetics Company) : "Our products are popular because their quality is on par with high-end cosmetics despite low prices."

In Italy, Korean cosmetics have gained popularity through word of mouth on Internet blogs and social media.

[Soundbite] Park Dong-wook(KOTRA) : "We believe that we can build a stronger long-term foundation if we create an attractive brand image by utilizing marketing channels."

Korean cosmetics makers are looking for ways to draw the attention of young Europeans who are also fans of K-pop.