Guinness Atkinson Launches K-Beauty ETF (KBTY) to Tap Korean Cosmetics Boom

Guinness Atkinson Asset Management has launched the Guinness Atkinson K-Beauty ETF (KBTY), offering targeted exposure to South Korea's rapidly expanding beauty industry. The fund invests across the K-beauty value chain, including cosmetics brands, contract manufacturers, retail and distribution networks, and medical aesthetics companies. KBTY carries an expense ratio of 0.55%. The launch comes as South Korea's cosmetics exports reached a record $11.4 billion in 2025, making it the world's second-largest cosmetics exporter. Korean beauty brands have also gained significant ground in the U.S., overtaking France in skincare and makeup exports to the market in 2024. Guinness Atkinson sees K-beauty's rapid product development cycles, manufacturing capabilities, and growing global demand as structural drivers of long-term growth, positioning KBTY to capture opportunities beyond the industry's social media popularity.