KOTRA Buyer Matching: How to Find Korean Cosmetics Suppliers

KOTRA buyer matching is the free or low-cost route that Korea’s trade promotion agency offers to foreign companies looking for Korean suppliers. You can send an import inquiry to the KOTRA office in your region or post it on buyKOREA, and KOTRA staff try to match it with Korean sellers. Business meetings in Korea and Korea pavilions at trade fairs are the other two main channels.

Korean brands use the same system from the other side to find overseas buyers. This guide is written for buyers: retailers, distributors and online shops that want Korean skincare and need a structured way to find and vet suppliers.

Step 1: Define what you need before you ask

KOTRA staff and Korean suppliers respond faster to specific enquiries. Before contacting anyone, write down:

• Product categories (for example sunscreen, sheet masks, cleansing balms) and any brands you already know.
• Your market and its rules. Cosmetics need different filings in each market: CPNP in the EU, MoCRA in the US, or ASEAN notification in Southeast Asia.
• The documents you will need from the supplier, such as INCI ingredient lists, safety data sheets or certificates of analysis.
• Whether you want a brand owner, a manufacturer or a multi-brand exporter.

Step 2: Send an import inquiry through KOTRA or buyKOREA

KOTRA’s buyer page explains two entry points. You can send an import inquiry to a KOTRA office in your region, or register on buyKOREA, KOTRA’s online B2B marketplace, where you can browse products, send offers to sellers directly, and receive KOTRA’s matched suggestions. According to KOTRA, its staff identify the best-matching sellers for each inquiry.

The Korea International Trade Association runs a second marketplace, tradeKorea. Listings on both platforms are posted by the sellers themselves, so treat them as leads, not as verified suppliers.

Step 3: Use KOTRA’s overseas offices

KOTRA has a network of overseas offices that act as a local contact for Korean companies. The buyer page says these offices serve as sales representatives for around 4,000 Korean SMEs, with staff supporting the import and export process on both sides. If you prefer to talk to someone in your own time zone, contacting the nearest office is often easier than reaching suppliers in Korea directly.

Step 4: Join business meetings and trade fairs

KOTRA runs more than 190 one-to-one business meetings in Korea each year, and eligible buyers may receive incentives such as airfare and accommodation, according to the same page. It also builds Korea pavilions at international trade fairs and invites buyers to fairs held in Korea.

For cosmetics, the biggest regional event is Cosmoprof Asia in Hong Kong. In 2026, Cosmoprof Asia (finished products) runs from 11 to 13 November at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, and Cosmopack Asia (supply chain) from 10 to 12 November at AsiaWorld-Expo. Booking meetings with Korean exhibitors in advance makes a short visit far more productive.

Step 5: Vet the supplier before the first order

A matched lead is only a starting point. Before paying a deposit:

• Check the business registration. A Korean company’s registration status can be checked on the National Tax Service’s Hometax service; a Hong Kong company can be searched on the Companies Registry’s e-Services portal.
• Ask how the supplier sources the goods and what documents it can provide for your filings.
• Agree the trade term and payment method in writing; our FOB vs EXW vs DDP comparison covers the first.
• Inspect the first shipment on arrival before you scale up.

When a direct supplier makes more sense

KOTRA channels are best for discovering brands and manufacturers. If you want several Korean brands in one order, with export documents handled in Korea, a multi-brand exporter can be simpler than dealing with each brand separately.

SEONGWOO GLOBAL is a Korean cosmetics exporter with companies in Seoul and Hong Kong. You can browse the brands we handle and send an enquiry through the pages below.

Related articles: Korea export voucher · Korea cosmetics export process · Cross-border ecommerce vs B2B export

Related pages: Brands · FAQ · Contact us

See also: Buyer lists vs sales channels · Find an overseas distributor