#South Korea #Seoul #K-Beauty #AI Factory #Kolmar Korea

Kolmar Korea to Lead AI Factory Project

Kolmar Korea is set to revolutionize the K-beauty industry as it has been selected as the sole cosmetics company to lead the government-funded AI Factory Initiative, orchestrated by South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIR). This forward-thinking project aims to elevate manufacturing from mere automation to autonomous production governed by artificial intelligence (AI), thus bolstering the global competitiveness of K-beauty.

The initiative marks a significant step in responding to the diverse needs of consumers by enabling rapid production of smaller batches and a wider array of products. Kolmar Korea's aim is to develop an AI-controlled autonomous manufacturing system that integrates all cosmetic production processes—from planning and formulation to quality control, filling, and packaging. Unlike traditional smart factories relying on predefined human inputs, AI factories leverage real-time data analysis to autonomously optimize production operations.

MOTIR is the central government entity responsible for industrial technology, research and development, trade, and foreign exchange in South Korea. As part of its national vision to become a “global manufacturing powerhouse” by 2030, MOTIR has launched the AI Factory M.AX (AI Transformation) Alliance, selecting leading companies from various sectors to advance AI development in manufacturing. Kolmar Korea’s selection, owing to its technological sophistication and manufacturing capabilities, underscores its position as a leader in the K-beauty sector.

Project Overview

The AI Factory project is anticipated to span four years, from September 2025 to December 2029. As a pivotal player in the AI Factory Alliance, Kolmar Korea will spearhead the transformation of cosmetics production through an AI-driven framework, focusing on the following core initiatives:

• - Establishing an integrated data platform: This will connect all cosmetic production processes to improve efficiency and communication.
• - Developing autonomous process management models: These AI models will enhance the quality and accuracy of products by facilitating optimal production conditions.

In the rapidly evolving global cosmetics market, where personalization and speed are increasingly emphasized, AI-driven manufacturing is becoming an essential component of maintaining K-beauty’s global stature. Despite the advancements, many production processes still heavily depend on manual labor, especially in developing custom products and packaging solutions. To address this, Kolmar Korea intends to share best practices from the rollout of its AI factory to accelerate digital innovation across the entire Korean cosmetics manufacturing ecosystem.

Kolmar Korea laid the groundwork for AI-driven manufacturing with its smart factory system established in 2019, which previously reduced defect rates by 42%. The new AI Factory will build upon this success, creating a next-generation production system optimized for flexible manufacturing of smaller batches.

A representative from Kolmar Korea stated, “Being chosen as the only cosmetics firm for the government’s AI Factory project affirms our technological leadership in AI-driven manufacturing. We will leverage our autonomous AI systems to elevate the standards of Korean cosmetics production and strengthen the competitiveness of the K-beauty sector on a global scale.”

Additionally, Kolmar Korea operates manufacturing facilities in South Korea, the United States, Canada, and China, with plans to implement new AI systems across its global production centers. Furthermore, the company aims to broaden the application of the AI Factory technology to other enterprises within the Kolmar group, including Kolmar BNH (nutritional supplements), HK inno.N (pharmaceuticals), and Yonwoo (cosmetics packaging).