CES, the World's Largest Electronics Exhibition, from the 7th for Four Days
Possible Attendance of Lotte 3rd Generation Shin Yu-yeol and Hanwha 3rd Generation Kim Dong-seon
K-Beauty Captivating the Globe Also Participates
With just four days left until the opening of CES 2025, the world's largest electronics and IT exhibition held every early January in the United States, the domestic distribution industry is also paying attention to the event where cutting-edge technologies and trends can be seen at a glance. In this era of convergence, companies aim to reflect the latest technologies that the world is focusing on?such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and healthcare?in product manufacturing and research and development (R&D), and to utilize them to improve operational efficiency. It is also a point of interest whether key executives, including owners, from major distribution companies and related sectors such as food and beauty will visit the site to check the trends.
According to industry sources on the 3rd, this year's CES will be held from January 7 to 10 (local time) in Las Vegas, USA. In the distribution sector, there is a possibility that Shin Yuyeol, Vice President and Head of Future Growth Office at Lotte Holdings and eldest son of Shin Dongbin, Chairman of Lotte Group, will visit the event. Last year, Vice President Shin visited the CES booth set up by Lotte Innovate (formerly Lotte Information & Communication), a Lotte Group affiliate, where he explored the metaverse platform 'Caliverse' and the electric vehicle charger 'EVSIS.' Lotte Innovate will participate in CES for the fourth consecutive year this year.
Shin Yu-yeol, Head of Future Growth Division at Lotte Holdings (Vice President). Provided by Lotte Holdings
AI and Food Tech: Discovering Future Food Sources
Another reason why Vice President Shin is highly expected to attend in Las Vegas is AI. In his New Year's address to group employees for 2025, Chairman Shin Dongbin stated, "Last year, we laid the groundwork for AI internalization across various fields," and urged, "As we enter the full-fledged AI era, please focus on AI internalization so that meaningful outcomes such as new business model creation and cost reduction can be achieved this year." Indeed, AI is expected to be the key theme throughout this year's CES. According to the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), which organizes the event, AI-related products have increased by more than 50% compared to the previous year. However, Lotte stated, "We cannot confirm any details regarding Vice President Shin's attendance at CES."
Another distribution owner mentioned in connection with attending CES is Kim Dongseon, Vice President of Hanwha Galleria and Hanwha Hotels & Resorts. He is responsible for new business strategies in Hanwha Group's distribution services and robotics sectors and has shown a particular interest in food tech, which integrates advanced technologies such as robotics into the food service industry. He also visited the CES site last year to explore food tech booths. Under his leadership, Hanwha Galleria launched the American handmade burger brand 'Five Guys' in Korea, and last year, Hanwha Food Tech, led by Vice President Kim, acquired the American robotic pizza brand 'Stella Pizza.' To realize food tech, they are also promoting collaboration and technology exchange with Hanwha Robotics, Hanwha's robotics specialist affiliate.
Furthermore, just as owner families from the food industry, such as Samyang Foods and Ourhome, visited the CES venue last year to explore future focus areas like digital health and food tech, this year, there may be attendees from the third and fourth generations of owner families. An industry insider noted, "Since CES is a place to check the current status and future of advanced IT technologies and is attended by many executives from major global companies, it can be a valuable opportunity for those preparing to take the lead in management."
Kim Dong-seon, Vice President of Hanwha Galleria and Hanwha Hotels & Resorts (right), is visiting the CES site last year and touring the food tech booth. Photo by Hanwha Food Tech
K-Beauty, Capturing Global Attention, Also Makes Its Mark
Domestic beauty companies also plan to lead trends with 'beauty tech' products targeting consumers worldwide. Beauty tech combines beauty and new technology (tech), meaning the use of beauty devices or AI technology in beauty. It goes beyond simply using beauty products; consumers can use personal skin care devices or receive personalized beauty solutions recommended through AI technology, thereby expanding its scope.
In the related industry, Amorepacific has participated in CES for six consecutive years since 2020. It is highly likely to win an Innovation Award at this year's event as well. The CES Innovation Awards are selected by a panel of experts in industrial design, engineering, and media, organized by the event host, based on the submitted technologies and products. Amorepacific has received the Innovation Award every year.
Korea Kolmar, a cosmetics original design manufacturer (ODM) specialist, will set up a booth at CES for the first time this year. Its main focus is the AI-based skin diagnosis platform 'CAIOME.' This solution helps users easily and quickly analyze the external and biological conditions of their skin. The company explains that by using this solution, users can analyze the skin's microbiome ecosystem within about five minutes and receive personalized customized solutions to manage their skin.
Additionally, beauty tech company APR will also set up a booth at CES this year to exhibit beauty devices. This marks their second consecutive year participating. This year, they plan to focus on showcasing second-generation beauty devices such as Booster Pro.
Meanwhile, according to global market research firm Statista, the global market size for beauty tech-related products, which was $3.777 billion (approximately KRW 5.54 trillion) in 2021, is expected to more than double to $8.93 billion (approximately KRW 13.1 trillion) by 2026.
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