There's a new business trend in South Korean: the rise of beauty subsidiaries. Companies are taking notice of the growing global market for Korean beauty products and want to become suppliers for the growing demand.

Tony Moly, the fourth most profitable cosmetics company in the country, made over 310 billion won in sales for 2014. Its products are sold in sixteen different countries and there are plans for expansion into the Middle East market, specifically Saudi Arabia, later this year.

With results like that, it's no wonder Korean firms want to expand their businesses. Watchmaker Romanson recently announced that its popular jewelry brand J.ESTINA RED, which is promoted by stars like Gong Hyo Jin and Song Hye Kyo, will launch a cosmetics line. Even e-commerce company Ticket Monster has plans to launch a facial treatment mask pack brand.

Entertainment companies are also going with the bandwagon. YG Entertainment unveiled its own cosmetics line Moonshot in 2014, along with its Seoul flagship store. The line's makeup products are often modeled by Lee Sung Kyung in magazine pictorials and there's even an English online store for international shoppers.

Popular celebrities are also making savvy business decisions. Empress Ki actress Ha Ji Won recently launched her own beauty brand called J.ONE. The company's flagship product (primary trademark product) is called Jelly Mask Pack, a facial mask for dry skin.

Cosmetics brands often have collaboration projects with K-pop idols and actors, but 2015 might be the year that those celebrities launch their own competitive labels.

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About the Author: Elsa is the founder, head writer, and editor of KPopBreak.com. She's a coffee addict, K-pop enthusiast, fashion lover and one of the few remaining members of the Church of Kristianity.