유전자 맞춤 화장품•다이어트 식단…바이오 기업들 영역 확장

Since the end of the 19th century, most industries have focused on mass production.
However,... with the Fourth Industrial Revolution,... Korea has been trying to grow new industries of a different kind, including health products customized for individuals.
Here's our Oh Soo-young with the third installment of a series on new industries.
One size doesn't fit all when it comes to beauty in all its shades and varying skin types.
A venture company in Southern Seoul is customising skincare products based on individual DNA amid the government's push to expand the consumer genomics market as a crucial part of Korea's biohealth industry.
Using results from direct-to-consumer DNA tests,... Genoheal draws up the optimal formula for each and every customer.
"Customers seeking brand value or products that offer benefits for all are a thing of the past. We, on the other hand, offer a wide range of products developed for each individual customer. For instance, our skincare products contain elements that curb the genes that cause rapid aging, loss of skin elasticity and skin discolouration."
The company has been selected for its innovative products,... which include patented substances such as medicinal mushrooms which keep the skin strong and healthy.
It hopes to develop more customised skincare solutions once the government eases restrictions on sharing other genetic information on skin such as allergies.
"They say you are what you eat. And this catering service in Seoul comes up with diet plans and recipes as well as customised meal deliveries best suited to your genetic make-up."
Based on a person's DNA results, a nutritionist recommends the daily calorie intake and the proportion of nutrients you should consume for optimal health, skincare and hair.
The meals also aim to make up for genetic traits that cause a lack of skin elasticity, slow metabolism and male pattern baldness.
"We live in a world where so many people as young as thirty years old are developing conditions such as cancer, high blood pressure and diabetes. Based on your genetic make-up,... you need to take care of your eating habits and environmental factors over the long-run, as the impact will show up over time."
The global consumer genomics market is projected to top four billion dollars by 2025,... growing at twenty percent a year.
However, to develop more useful solutions tailored to individual needs,... industry leaders say the country's regulations on genetic information need to be loosened significantly.
Oh Soo-young, Arirang News.