34th Hahn Moo-Sook Colloquium: K-Beauty

K-Beauty has rapidly transformed the global beauty landscape – from consumer behavior, cosmetic surgery, to a multi-billion-dollar global industry. This year’s HMS Colloquium will examine two components: first, K-beauty as setting new standards of beauty that prioritize skin health, innovative skincare products, holistic beauty philosophies, personalization, and inclusivity, challenging traditional Western ideals; and second, K-beauty as affecting global consumption patterns such as economic factors through trade policies, marketing strategies, and social media trends. K-beauty serves as a pivotal case study of how cultural exports can redefine beauty norms and drive economic growth in the competitive global marketplace.