K-Beauty is transforming the global beauty industry
PASADENA, Calif., Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Guinness Atkinson Asset Management (“Guinness Atkinson”), a leader in specialized and thematic investment solutions, today announced the launch of the Guinness Atkinson™ K-Beauty ETF (ticker: KBTY). The fund seeks to capture the growth of South Korea’s fast-moving beauty ecosystem as K-beauty transitions from a viral global trend into a dominant export powerhouse.
“For thirty years, Korea has been quietly laying the foundation for an export titan by backing its cultural boom with unmatched manufacturing speed, regulatory efficacy, and digital-first innovation,” said Jim Atkinson, CEO, Guinness Atkinson Asset Management. “What looks like an overnight sensation on social media is actually a structural shift in global consumer behavior. With KBTY, we are excited to give investors a dedicated vehicle to participate directly in the rapid global expansion of K-beauty.”
KBTY seeks to provide investors with targeted exposure to the dynamic companies across the Korean beauty value chain, spanning major beauty brands, market-leading contract manufacturers (ODMs), premier retail and distribution networks, and rapidly growing medical aesthetics companies. The fund’s expense ratio is 0.55%.
The launch of KBTY is driven by the compelling fundamental growth of South Korea’s cosmetics industry. In 2025, South Korea recorded a landmark $11.4 billion in cosmetics exports, rising to become the world’s second-largest exporter in the category (Ministry of Food and Drug Safety). This upward momentum has only accelerated into 2026, allowing K-beauty to displace traditional industry giants, notably passing France in 2024 to become the top exporter of skincare and makeup to the United States (USITC).
Driving this dominance is a distinct structural advantage in South Korea’s manufacturing ecosystem, alongside expanding retail opportunities. Thanks to specialized contract manufacturing infrastructure, K-beauty brands can move products from concept to store shelves in just three to six months (Korea Times).
“Korean beauty is no longer just a niche internet phenomenon,” said Valerie Huang, portfolio manager at Guinness Atkinson Funds. “KBTY is designed to capture value across the entire industry ecosystem, from the ‘picks and shovels’ manufacturers who formulate for winning brands to high-margin medical aesthetics companies riding tailwinds like GLP-1 treatments. We aim to provide investors with pure-play exposure to this multi-year secular growth story.”
About Guinness Atkinson Funds
Guinness Atkinson Funds delivers innovative investment strategies designed to capture long-term structural changes in the global economy. Known for thematic foresight, and disciplined research, Guinness Atkinson provides investors with specialized solutions across global markets, energy transition, and emerging consumer trends. Learn more about our funds, research, and insights at https://www.gafunds.com/
Important Information
Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Guinness Atkinson™ K-Beauty ETF before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the Fund. To obtain a prospectus, visit gafunds.com or call 866 307-5990. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. The Fund is newly organized and has a limited operating history.
The Fund invests mainly in companies in the Korean beauty industry. Because the Fund concentrates in a single country and a single industry, it may be more volatile than a fund that invests more broadly. Political, economic, regulatory or trade developments affecting Korea, including changes in tariffs, could hurt the Fund’s performance.
Investments in foreign securities involve risks that US investments don’t, including currency fluctuations, political and economic instability, and differences in accounting and regulatory standards. Investments in smaller and mid-sized companies may be more volatile and less liquid than investments in larger companies.
The Fund is not actively managed. It seeks to track the performance of the Indxx K-Beauty Index, and it generally won’t sell a security because the issuer is performing poorly unless that security is removed from the index. The Fund’s performance may not match the index’s because of fees and expenses, transaction costs, cash holdings, differences between the Fund’s holdings and the index, and the timing of trades. Currency valuation and Korean market holidays can also cause differences.
Shares of the Fund are bought and sold at market price, not net asset value (NAV), and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. Market price may be above or below NAV. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.
The Guinness Atkinson ETFs are distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.
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SOURCE Guinness Atkinson Asset Management
