[New York = E-Daily Seong Joowon Correspondent] Approximately 150 local creators who have driven the popularity of K-Beauty in Manhattan, New York, gathered. COSMAX, INC., a Korean Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) company, partnered with the North American Korean Entrepreneurs Network to honor influencers who have contributed to the global expansion of K-Beauty and to expand the entry of small and medium-sized Korean cosmetics brands into the U.S. market through collaboration with them.

COSMAX, INC.(192820)announced on the 18th that it had co-hosted the “KOOM K-Beauty Creator Awards” with UKF (United Korean Founders), a North American network of Korean entrepreneurs, in Manhattan, New York, on the 17th (local time). This event was organized as part of “KOOM WEEK 2026,” a festival for K-brands and startups in North America.
The awards ceremony, held as a private invitation-only event, was attended by Lee Kyung-soo, Chairman of the COSMAX Group; Lee Byung-ju, CEO (Vice Chairman) of COSMAX BTI; Jeong Se-ju, Chairman of UKF; Charlotte Cho, CEO of Soko Glam, a U.S. K-Beauty distribution platform; and Michelle Han, Director of UKF. Approximately 150 K-Beauty influencers and creators active in North America also attended the event.
This awards ceremony was organized to recognize the contributions of local content creators who have played a key role in the growth of K-Beauty in the U.S. market and to expand collaboration between HANKOOKCOSMETICS and creators. In particular, it focused on enhancing the competitiveness of K-Beauty indie brands—those entering overseas markets with their own unique brands—as well as large corporations.
Awards were presented in six categories: K-Beauty Trailblazer, Educator, Innovator, Community Builder, Next-Generation K-Beauty Creator, and Editor. Ava Lee was selected as Trailblazer, Charine Cheung as Educator, and Gina Ribisi and Marissa Ribisi as Innovators. Dr. Zion Ko Lamm won the Community Builder award, Dr. David Kim won the Next-Generation K-Beauty Creator award, and Sarah Han won the Editor award.
Charine Cheung, the winner in the Educator category, was selected for the “Daesang” award, which is considered the grand prize. Based in Vancouver, Canada, she is a beauty influencer with approximately 600,000 TikTok followers. Drawing on her background in pharmacy, she has been recognized for enhancing local consumers’ understanding of K-Beauty by presenting skincare methods for sensitive skin and explaining cosmetic ingredients in a scientific yet accessible manner.
Winners will be offered the opportunity to visit COSMAX, INC.’s headquarters in Korea in the first half of 2027 and receive brand development consulting. Round-trip airfare to Korea and accommodations will also be provided. The initiative goes beyond a simple awards ceremony; its purpose is to allow creators to experience Korea’s cosmetics research, development, and production facilities firsthand and to facilitate future brand collaborations.
COSMAX, INC. is supporting Korean indie cosmetics brands in their expansion into North America by leveraging the research, development, and production capabilities of its U.S. subsidiary and its headquarters in Korea. The company plans to continue expanding collaborations with local creators to broaden the reach of K-Beauty brands among U.S. consumers.
COSMAX, INC. stated, “The remarkable growth of K-Beauty and indie brands in the U.S. market has been made possible by the authentic content created by these creators,” adding, “Based on our global R&D infrastructure, we will diversify our collaboration models to further elevate the global standing of K-Beauty.”