REPOVE, Official Cosmetics Sponsor of APEC 2025 KOREA, Drew Packed Crowds at Its Gyeongju Booth

• Selected after a rigorous government review of nine finalists — about 1,000 visitors tried the products during the event
• One year later: a new GMP plant in Gyeongsan and HydroDNA in every 6th-generation product

During APEC 2025 KOREA, held last autumn in Gyeongju, Korea, the “Culture Madang” around the Gyeongju Arts Center became a festival of Korean culture, with pavilions dedicated to K-food, K-beauty, hanbok and hanok. Amid the crowds of national delegations, foreign journalists and visitors, one spot drew especially packed crowds: the skincare experience booth of REPOVE, the cosmetics brand of Binotec, an official APEC sponsor, which ran in the K-Beauty pavilion from October 27 to November 2, 2025.

REPOVE did not earn its place easily. Many companies applied to become official APEC sponsors, and the nine finalists went through a rigorous government review. REPOVE passed the review and was named an official sponsor cosmetics brand.

About 1,000 visitors tried the products at the booth during the event. REPOVE presented a basic skincare line designed for everyone, regardless of nationality, age or gender. Members of foreign economic delegations were drawn to the instant sense of moisture, fast absorption and smooth textures, and some compared their skin with one another as they chatted. Korean visitors took particular interest in the fact that the products are made with nano delivery technology.

“It was amazing to experience the power of K-beauty that I had only heard about,” said Susan, 45, a member of the U.S. economic delegation, at the time. “The products spread easily and absorb very well, and I was impressed by how my skin felt different right away.”

Representatives of global e-commerce and overseas platforms, as well as influencers, also visited the booth and asked detailed questions about REPOVE’s nano delivery technology and its key ingredient, HydroDNA, a DNA component derived from salmon. Some visitors expressed regret that they could not buy the products on site.

“Through our official sponsorship of APEC, we were able to show the technology and competitiveness of K-beauty directly to business leaders from around the world,” said Yu-mi Kim, CEO of Binotec, at the time. “Since our products can be used by anyone regardless of nationality or age, we expect a positive response in global markets as well.”

One year after APEC: stronger production and technology

After the APEC stage, Binotec first strengthened its production base. As the first company to move into the Gyeongsan Cosmetics Specialized Complex, Binotec completed a GMP-certified manufacturing plant for cosmetics and health functional foods there on July 28, 2026, representing an investment of KRW 25 billion. By handling every step in-house — from liposome ingredient production to finished products — the plant is also accelerating the domestic production of liposome ingredients that Korea had long relied on importing.

HydroDNA, which attracted attention at APEC, is now used in every product of REPOVE’s sixth generation. HydroDNA is an ingredient that places salmon-derived DNA (PDRN) inside nano capsules made of the same material as cell membranes, and it is protected by Korean Patent No. 10-2678046. According to the company’s technical data, its particles measure 23.53 nm — about 1/3,000 the width of a human hair — and 99.2% of the ingredient is fully encapsulated.

Built on this nano delivery technology, Binotec holds 18 patents in Korea, 3 in the United States and 1 in Europe (validated in Germany, the United Kingdom and France).

Getting closer to consumers worldwide

The international interest confirmed at APEC has led to a broader global push. In January this year, Binotec took part in CES 2026 in Las Vegas, the world’s largest technology and consumer electronics show, where it presented its fermented red ginseng product, Daehan Sammaek, and met overseas buyers. The company has also filed its core technology trademarks, Hydroethosome® and Absosome™, overseas, with registrations completed in the United States and Thailand.

Having first made its name on the international stage at APEC, REPOVE is now drawing attention for how far it can go in reaching consumers worldwide, backed by its own manufacturing plant and patented technology.

Note: This article concerns cosmetic products and does not relate to the prevention or treatment of any disease.