Paris - Summer Exhibition 2026 - #4 - K-Beauty, the Korean obsession with perfect skin

Korean beauty products, K-pop, K-dramas: the Musée Guimet places the K-Beauty phenomenon in its historical and cultural context, for the 140th anniversary of Franco-Korean diplomatic relations.

Korean beauty products have become a staple on specialist shelves and in Western bathrooms. "K-Beauty. Beauté coréenne, histoire d'un phénomène", is open to the public until July 6, 2026. The exhibition looks at both traditional rituals and industrial innovations, including the influence of K-dramas and K-pop on the imaginary world of beauty.

K-Beauty is a global phenomenon, driven by social media networks, K-dramas and K-pop. It's based on an obsession with perfect skin, with multi-step skincare rituals ranging from fabric masks to layering creams. The exhibition shows how this phenomenon is part of a long history of beauty rituals and cultural exchanges between Korea and France.

Thought up for the 140th anniversary of Franco-Korean diplomatic relations, it also questions our contemporary relationship with self-care, performance and the obsession with perfect skin. The Musée Guimet thus offers a space for reflection on beauty as a cultural and political phenomenon.

Practical info

• When: until July 6, 2026

• Where: Musée Guimet, 6 place d'Iéna, Paris 16e