The continued global growth of K-beauty companies has translated into sharply higher compensation for executives at South Korea’s major cosmetics firms. Yoon Sang-hyun, vice chairman of Kolmar Holdings, received more than 5.3 billion won (approximately $3.8 million) in the first half of this year, the highest among major executives, followed by Amorepacific Group Chairman Suh Kyung-bae in the 5.2 billion won range. Dalba Global CEO Ban Seong-yeon saw his compensation nearly triple in a year and drew attention by taking his entire bonus in company stock.

According to the Financial Supervisory Service’s electronic disclosure system on the 14th, Vice Chairman Yoon received 2.06 billion won from Kolmar Holdings and 3.272 billion won from Kolmar Korea (161890) in the first half, totaling 5.332 billion won. That marks a 107.2% increase from the 2.57391 billion won he received from the two companies in the same period last year. His salary this year totaled 1.769 billion won across both companies, with bonuses of 3.564 billion won. In particular, long-term performance incentives of 1.86 billion won from Kolmar Korea significantly boosted his bonus. On a standalone basis at Kolmar Korea, he received 959 million won in salary and 2.313 billion won in bonuses—nearly four times the 553 million won bonus he received last year.

Yoon Dong-han, chairman of Kolmar Holdings and father of Vice Chairman Yoon, also received 714 million won in salary and 1.104 billion won in bonuses, totaling 1.818 billion won in the first half. That represents a 71.7% increase from 1.05904 billion won a year earlier. Combined, the father and son received 7.15 billion won from Kolmar Holdings and Kolmar Korea.

Amorepacific Group Chairman Suh Kyung-bae received a total of 5.213 billion won from Amorepacific (090430) and Amorepacific Holdings (002790), up 1.9% from 5.116 billion won in the first half of last year. By company, he received 1.312 billion won in salary and 2.625 billion won in organizational performance bonuses from Amorepacific, and 425 million won in salary plus 851 million won in performance bonuses from Amorepacific Holdings. His combined salary was 1.737 billion won, with bonuses of 3.476 billion won.

Dalba Global (483650) CEO Ban Seong-yeon received 279 million won in salary and 3.046 billion won in bonuses in the first half, totaling 3.325 billion won. That marks a 177.8% increase from 1.197 billion won a year earlier. Bonuses accounted for more than 90% of his total compensation. Dalba Global said Ban received his management performance bonus in company stock as part of his commitment to responsible management, further increasing his stake as the largest shareholder.

APR (278470) CEO Kim Byung-hoon received 1.5 billion won in the first half, up 50% from 1 billion won a year earlier. Kim received his entire compensation as salary with no separate bonus. At the same company, CFO and Vice President Shin Jae-ha received 284 million won in salary and 501 million won in bonuses, while Lee Min-kyung, head of overseas business (senior managing director), received 378 million won in salary and 633 million won in bonuses. Lee also exercised stock options, realizing a gain of 529 million won.

Cosmax (192820) Chairman Lee Kyung-soo received 561.25 million won in salary and 61.15 million won in bonuses, totaling 622.4 million won—down 7.5% from 672.78 million won a year earlier. Lee Sun-joo, who took office as CEO of LG Household & Health Care (051900) in November last year, received 647 million won in salary in the first half with no bonus.

First-half compensation for major K-beauty company CEOs is as follows:

ExecutiveCompanyTotal CompensationYoY ChangeVice Chairman Yoon Sang-hyunKolmar Holdings·Kolmar Korea5.332 billion won+107.2%Chairman Suh Kyung-baeAmorepacific Group5.213 billion won+1.9%CEO Ban Seong-yeonDalba Global3.325 billion won+177.8%Chairman Yoon Dong-hanKolmar Holdings1.818 billion won+71.7%CEO Kim Byung-hoonAPR1.5 billion won+50.0%CEO Lee Sun-jooLG Household & Health Care647 million wonNew appointmentChairman Lee Kyung-sooCosmax622.4 million won-7.5%

Note: Total compensation includes salary and bonuses; stock option exercise gains are separate.

The surge in executive pay tracks the global performance of K-beauty. OEM/ODM manufacturers like Kolmar Korea and Cosmax saw improved results as orders from domestic and international brand companies increased, which translated into larger executive performance bonuses. Dalba Global and APR have emerged as leading new-generation K-beauty players, demonstrating founder-centric high-performance compensation structures.

Dalba Global CEO Ban Seong-yeon’s decision to take his bonus in company stock is particularly noteworthy. Receiving the full management performance bonus in shares rather than cash signals a commitment to responsible management while simultaneously increasing the largest shareholder’s stake, aligning interests with other shareholders. The exercise of stock options by APR executives also shows that compensation structures linking performance and rewards to share price are spreading among emerging K-beauty companies.

By contrast, legacy leaders Amorepacific and LG Household & Health Care saw relatively modest pay increases. Chairman Suh Kyung-bae’s compensation rose just 1.9%, while CEO Lee Sun-joo received only salary in her first year with no bonus. Cosmax Chairman Lee Kyung-soo actually saw his pay decline. The pattern suggests emerging brands and OEM/ODM manufacturers are reaping a larger share of the K-beauty growth dividend.