Amorepacific injects USD 722,534 into Yonsei University research partnership
The research will explore how personal growth and the ability to influence relationships positively can form part of a more comprehensive understanding of beauty.
SOUTH KOREA – Amorepacific is set to donate 1 billion won, equivalent to about USD 722,534, to Yonsei University to support research into the concept of “inner beauty” among young people and develop an index to measure it.
The initiative will be conducted with Yonsei University’s Institute for Population and Talent.
The partnership responds to concerns that teenagers are increasingly exposed to appearance-based comparisons through digital platforms and social media.
These environments can reinforce standardised perceptions of beauty and place pressure on young people to conform to uniform physical ideals.
Under the funding arrangement, 500 million won will be allocated to research on young people’s inner beauty.
The remaining 500 million won will support a separate research programme examining how society can respond to major structural changes, including the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and demographic shifts.
The research team plans to define inner beauty as more than a person’s internal values or personal qualities.
The concept will focus on an individual’s ability to create positive change in relationships with others.
Based on this framework, Amorepacific and Yonsei University intend to develop a Korean Inner Beauty Index, or IBI, designed to assess the concept objectively.
The index is expected to provide a structured way to examine how young people’s attitudes, values and interactions contribute to healthier relationships and wider social engagement.
The findings will be used to assess and strengthen Amorepacific’s “Meet Your Beauty” social contribution campaign, which the company has operated for younger generations since 2024.
The programme includes education aimed at improving young people’s understanding of beauty, career mentoring and creator training.
Through the new research, Amorepacific plans to evaluate the impact of these activities more systematically and identify areas for improvement.
The proposed index is also expected to provide clearer benchmarks for measuring the outcomes of the company’s youth initiatives.
This could help Amorepacific develop more targeted support programmes and establish a more concrete direction for future activities focused on young people.
The second research stream will examine the effects of artificial intelligence and demographic change on society.
It will seek to identify ways to respond to these developments while supporting sustainable social progress.
Amorepacific’s funding will help establish the research infrastructure required for the project. This includes recruiting researchers and organising policy conferences to encourage discussion around the social consequences of technological and demographic transformation.
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