{
  "publication": "What Seoul Is Buying Right Now",
  "issue": 1,
  "date": "2026-10-16",
  "author": "Sean Lim",
  "url": "https://citeda.com/01",
  "language": "en",
  "source": "https://citeda.com/data/",
  "version": "2026-10-16",
  "license": "Free to read. Quote with attribution and a link to citeda.com.",
  "note": "Export values are declared export values in USD. Amazon observations are dated public page checks and change daily.",
  "method": [
    "Korea Customs Service monthly export value by category",
    "Korean creator video view counts",
    "Amazon US search suggestions and page-one check",
    "In-store price and stock check in Seoul"
  ],
  "headline_stats": {
    "products": 6,
    "in_amazon_search_box": 5,
    "us_listings": 0
  },
  "export_trends_kr_to_us": [
    {
      "category": "Deodorant",
      "latest_month": "2026-09",
      "usd": 2500000,
      "note": "from ~0 a year earlier"
    },
    {
      "category": "Hair treatment",
      "latest_month": "2026-09",
      "usd": 16100000,
      "yoy": 0.81
    },
    {
      "category": "Perfume",
      "latest_month": "2026-09",
      "usd": 1600000,
      "yoy": 2.15
    },
    {
      "category": "Skincare",
      "latest_month": "2026-09",
      "usd": 221000000,
      "yoy": 0.41
    }
  ],
  "products": [
    {
      "id": "prd_46cm-deodorant-body-wash",
      "issue_ref": "p1",
      "tier": "feature",
      "name": "46cm Deodorant Body Wash",
      "brand_ids": [
        "brd_lg-hnh"
      ],
      "category": "deodorant / body",
      "signal": "sold out online in Seoul; Daiso ₩5,000 size since Sep 2026",
      "export_category": "Deodorant",
      "amazon_us": {
        "listings": 0,
        "status": "no seller",
        "checked": "2026-10-14/15"
      },
      "kicker": "The pick",
      "price_seoul": "₩5,000 at Daiso",
      "card_stat": {
        "label": "KR→US deodorant exports",
        "value": "$2.5M",
        "count_up": 2.5
      },
      "quote": "Korea didn't have a body-odor category. LG invented one, then priced it at ₩5,000.",
      "getting": "LG H&H already sells through Korean cross-border shops, so an export desk exists. Case pricing is the open question.",
      "amazon_autocomplete": {
        "typed": "46cm deodorant",
        "suggestions": [
          {
            "text": "46cm deodorant body wash",
            "hl": true
          }
        ],
        "note": "0 results with a seller"
      },
      "sold_out": true,
      "feature": "Body wash that does a deodorant's job. 4 scents, 600ml.",
      "kcat": "바디워시",
      "tint": "t1",
      "image": "/media/products/46cm.jpg",
      "shape": "pump",
      "image_credit": "LG H&H",
      "issue": 1,
      "url": "https://citeda.com/01#p1",
      "brands": [
        "LG H&H"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "prd_healing-bird-revive-no-wash-treatment",
      "issue_ref": "p2",
      "tier": "feature",
      "name": "Healing Bird Revive No-Wash Treatment",
      "brand_ids": [
        "brd_clio"
      ],
      "category": "hair treatment",
      "signal": "1.0M-view Korean creator video this month; Korea's fastest-growing hair export category",
      "export_category": "Hair treatment",
      "amazon_us": {
        "listings": 0,
        "status": "no seller",
        "checked": "2026-10-14/15"
      },
      "kicker": "Leave-in, no wash",
      "price_seoul": "1.0M-view video this month",
      "card_stat": {
        "label": "KR→US hair-treatment exports",
        "value": "+81%"
      },
      "quote": "Hair is the category Korea is exporting fastest. Nobody has claimed the keyword.",
      "getting": "Clio runs an export team and already sells through Olive Young Global and Club Clio. Case quantities and a US-label version are realistic asks.",
      "amazon_autocomplete": {
        "typed": "healing bird",
        "suggestions": [
          {
            "text": "healing bird hyaluron milk hair essence"
          },
          {
            "text": "healing bird"
          },
          {
            "text": "healing bird hair"
          },
          {
            "text": "healing bird revive no wash treatment damage repair",
            "hl": true
          },
          {
            "text": "healing bird revive",
            "hl": true
          }
        ],
        "note": "highlighted: no seller on page one"
      },
      "feature": "Leave-in hair treatment. No rinse, 200ml.",
      "kcat": "헤어",
      "tint": "t2",
      "image": "/media/products/healingbird.jpg",
      "shape": "tube",
      "image_credit": "Clio / Healing Bird",
      "issue": 1,
      "url": "https://citeda.com/01#p2",
      "brands": [
        "CLIO"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "prd_tamburins",
      "issue_ref": "p3",
      "tier": "feature",
      "name": "Tamburins",
      "brand_ids": [
        "brd_tamburins"
      ],
      "category": "fragrance",
      "signal": "hour-long queues at Seongsu; BLACKPINK's Jennie is the face",
      "export_category": "Perfume",
      "amazon_us": {
        "listings": 0,
        "status": "no seller",
        "checked": "2026-10-14/15"
      },
      "kicker": "The fragrance house",
      "price_seoul": "Hour-long queues in Seongsu",
      "card_stat": {
        "label": "KR→US perfume exports",
        "value": "+215%"
      },
      "quote": "The one Americans already know by name, and literally cannot buy.",
      "getting": "No wholesale program, and the brand may enforce. A boutique play bought at retail in Seoul, not an FBA volume play.",
      "amazon_autocomplete": {
        "typed": "tamburins",
        "suggestions": [
          {
            "text": "tamburins"
          },
          {
            "text": "tamburins perfume",
            "hl": true
          },
          {
            "text": "tamburins hand cream",
            "hl": true
          },
          {
            "text": "tamburins chamo",
            "hl": true
          },
          {
            "text": "tamburins chamo perfume",
            "hl": true
          }
        ],
        "note": "highlighted: no seller on page one"
      },
      "feature": "Perfume, perfume hand, balm. Gentle Monster's fragrance house.",
      "kcat": "향수",
      "tint": "t3",
      "image": "/media/products/tamburins.jpg",
      "shape": "perfume",
      "image_credit": "Tamburins",
      "issue": 1,
      "url": "https://citeda.com/01#p3",
      "brands": [
        "Tamburins"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "prd_borntostandout",
      "issue_ref": "w1",
      "tier": "watch",
      "name": "BORNTOSTANDOUT",
      "brand_ids": [
        "brd_borntostandout"
      ],
      "category": "fragrance",
      "signal": "L'Oréal venture fund investment this year",
      "amazon_us": {
        "listings": 1,
        "status": "single review, early",
        "checked": "2026-10"
      },
      "status_label": "1 listing · early",
      "feature": "Niche perfume: Oud Candy, Sugar Addict, Dirty Milk.",
      "kcat": "향수",
      "tint": "t3",
      "image": "/media/products/borntostandout.jpg",
      "price_seoul": "Seoul niche house, founded 2022",
      "shape": "perfume",
      "image_credit": "BORNTOSTANDOUT",
      "issue": 1,
      "url": "https://citeda.com/01#w1",
      "brands": [
        "BORNTOSTANDOUT"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "prd_collagen-gel-masks",
      "issue_ref": "w2",
      "tier": "watch",
      "name": "Collagen gel masks (Noprob, Klairs, EGA)",
      "brand_ids": [
        "brd_noprob",
        "brd_klairs",
        "brd_ega"
      ],
      "category": "skincare",
      "signal": "Olive Young sell-outs; tutorial video past 250k views this month",
      "amazon_us": {
        "status": "Americans not typing it yet; TikTok Shop pick",
        "checked": "2026-10"
      },
      "status_label": "Not searched yet",
      "feature": "Overnight gel masks. Noprob, Klairs, EGA.",
      "kcat": "마스크",
      "tint": "t2",
      "image": "/media/products/noprob.jpg",
      "price_seoul": "Olive Young sell-outs",
      "shape": "jar",
      "image_credit": "no:prob (Hiner)",
      "issue": 1,
      "url": "https://citeda.com/01#w2",
      "brands": [
        "Noprob",
        "Klairs",
        "EGA"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "prd_boj-stay-fresh-tone-up-spf50",
      "issue_ref": "w3",
      "tier": "watch",
      "name": "Beauty of Joseon Stay Fresh Tone-Up, Purple SPF50+",
      "brand_ids": [
        "brd_beauty-of-joseon"
      ],
      "category": "sun care",
      "signal": "tone-up sunscreen replacing foundation in Korea's fall look",
      "amazon_us": {
        "status": "page two behind Relief Sun; brand to list properly soon",
        "checked": "2026-10"
      },
      "status_label": "Page two on Amazon",
      "feature": "Tone-up sunscreen SPF50+, purple. 50ml.",
      "kcat": "선케어",
      "tint": "t1",
      "image": "/media/products/boj.jpg",
      "price_seoul": "Korea's fall base look",
      "shape": "tube",
      "image_credit": "Beauty of Joseon",
      "issue": 1,
      "url": "https://citeda.com/01#w3",
      "brands": [
        "Beauty of Joseon"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "contact": "sean@go.citeda.com"
}