Korean Beauty Team Achieves Eighth Consecutive Victory at 2026 OMC Hair World

The South Korean national team has achieved remarkable success by winning the overall championship at the prestigious '2026 OMC Hair World,' marking its eighth consecutive victory. This accomplishment reaffirms South Korea's status as a leading country in the beauty sector. The Korea Beauty Association (KBA), led by Chairperson Lee Seon-sim, held a press conference on the 19th to announce the results of the competition.

Held from October 10 to 12 at the Paris Expo in France, the competition saw the South Korean team excel amidst fierce competition from around the globe. Notably, 55 out of 56 participating countries were present, making the competition more intense than ever. Despite this, the South Korean representatives achieved first place overall, further entrenching their position as a dominant force in the industry.

The team, consisting of 13 senior and junior athletes, secured an unprecedented result, bringing home 6 gold medals, 6 silver medals, 2 bronze medals, and 7 excellence awards, thereby solidifying their reputation as a beauty powerhouse.

In terms of the competition standings, the South Korean team secured first place in senior creative and hair-by-night technical categories, second place in the prestige gala and prestige bridal categories, and fourth place in senior open wave and romantic bridal fashion. Individually, athletes such as Kim Da-hyun, Kim Moon-jeong, and Ji Da-hyun won gold medals in their respective categories.

Silver medals were awarded to athletes including Kim Eun-ji in hair-by-night, Park Hyung-dae in prestige gala, Hong Su-min and Jung Yoon-jeong in open wave, and Ji Da-hyun in romantic bridal. Bronze medals went to athletes such as Baek Un-jeong and Kim Sol-li in open wave.

Chairperson Lee Seon-sim evaluated the achievements of this year's competition as particularly competitive, noting that the athletes achieved excellent results including individual awards. She highlighted the rapid growth of skills among surrounding Asian countries, indicating the increasing significance of Asian competitions in the beauty sector. Additionally, congratulations were expressed to Kwon Gi-hyeong for being appointed as the first Korean coordinator of the OMC, acknowledging his contribution to the industry.

Lee Seon-sim also expressed deep gratitude to Kwon Gi-hyeong, Vice Chair Kim Hyun-ja, International Committee Chair Choi Bok-ja, Regional Chair Jeong Mae-ja, Scalp and Hair Chair Lee Ae-won, and wig committee Chair Song Hyun-joo for their dedication in leading the team despite busy schedules.

This competition was the fruit of the hard work, dedication, and support from coaches, particularly highlighted by Coach Park Hyung-dae and Kwon Gi-hyeong. The testimonies of the athletes reflected heartfelt gratitude towards their leaders and support staff. Coach Park Hyung-dae stated, "Thanks to the support from our mentor Kwon Gi-hyeong and the association chair and executives, we were able to achieve valuable results." Athlete Lee Da-hyun remarked, "There were moments I wanted to give up during the competition, but thanks to the support of our chair and coaches, I was able to persevere to the end."

Athlete Kim Moon-jeong expressed appreciation for the excellent guidance received despite joining later in the training, noting that this year provided the most focused environment. Kim Ah-yeon highlighted the honor of competing alongside senior national representatives, stating, "I truly felt that hard work cannot be defeated." Junior fashion team members Kang Min-ki, Jung Yoo-jung, Kim Sol-li, and Ji Da-hyun echoed their gratitude towards the chair and executives for their unwavering support, enabling them to complete the competition successfully and grow immensely.

The OMC Global Awards Night honored several individuals: Chairperson Lee Seon-sim with the Icon Award, Kwon Gi-hyeong with the World's Best Trainer Award, and Vice Chair Kim Hyun-ja with the Outstanding Member Award, while team members Park Hyung-dae, Kim Eun-ji, and Lee Da-hyun were also recognized for their contributions.