Olive Young is more than Korea’s biggest beauty retailer. It is also a trend forecaster, data company, omnichannel platform and incubator for emerging K-Beauty brands.
In Part 2 of this special, Host Lauren Lee explores how Olive Young connects its physical stores, online platform, rapid delivery and live commerce to create a seamless discovery-led shopping experience. She also examines how its loyalty programme, consumer data and merchandising capabilities help the company identify trends and scale Korean beauty brands.
Plus, she looks at the more complicated side of Olive Young’s rise, including regulatory scrutiny over its supplier practices and the lawsuit involving a lifting mask sold under one of its in-house brands.
Finally, she breaks down Olive Young’s international expansion strategy, what went wrong with the launch of its dedicated US platform, the competition it faces from Amazon, Sephora and Ulta, and whether its platform model could support a successful return to China.
For full show notes and resources, visit:
Show Notes
Catch up on Part 1:
Part 1
Brands and Retailers Mentioned in This Episode
CONNECT WITH LAUREN:
Affiliate Disclaimer
Some links we share may be affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. This helps to offset the cost of producing the show.
A Small Request
If you use insights, data or research from this episode in your own content, we ask that you kindly credit The Korean Beauty Show and tag us where possible. It helps others find the original source and supports the work that goes into producing these episodes.

The Business Behind Olive Young (Part 1)
18:50

Olive Young Launched in the US and People Are P*ssed
27:18

K-Beauty Is Growing Up: What That Means for 2026
39:49