Facial Plastic Surgeon Leads Clinical K-Beauty Movement: Bridging Korean Innovation and U.S. Aesthetic Standards with Global Retreats and Upcoming Expansions
AIREM, a medical spa in New York, joins Korean beauty traditions with western medicine to bend clinical K-beauty innovation within FDA regulations. In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, Airem is unveiling a series of transformative experiences that adapt American ideas of beauty with holistic Korean heritage.
Courtesy of AIREM Medspa
As Korean beauty continues to influence aesthetic treatments and skincare across the U.S., AIREM—a New York-based medical spa—is bridging traditional Korean beauty philosophies with Western medicine to pioneer Clinical K-Beauty innovations that align with FDA regulations. In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this May, AIREM is unveiling a series of transformative experiences that reimagine American beauty ideals through the lens of holistic Korean heritage.
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As Korean beauty continues to influence aesthetic treatments and skincare across the U.S., AIREM—a New York-based medical spa—is bridging traditional Korean beauty philosophies with Western medicine to pioneer Clinical K-Beauty innovations that align with FDA regulations. In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this May, AIREM is unveiling a series of transformative experiences that reimagine American beauty ideals through the lens of holistic Korean heritage.
AIREM Expands with Global Wellness Retreats
AIREM—its name inspired by the Korean word for beauty, is launching its Beauty & Wellness Retreat in Seoul in May, an exclusive wellness experience led by Eunice Park, MD, the founder of AIREM, and her team, combining advanced treatments and mindful self-care with cultural practices, per an April 17 press release.
The medspa will also debut “Jeju in the Hamptons” Memorial Day weekend in Bridgehampton–an immersive spa inspired by Jeju Island in South Korea. By year’s end, AIREM will expand further with a new flagship location in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, designed in partnership with Glow Seoul, per the release.
Eunice Park, MD was born in Busan, South Korea, and in 1980 she immigrated to New York where she became a Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. Park coined Clinical K-Beauty in her medspa, a term that focuses on integrating coveted Korean technology into her U.S. practices.Courtesy of AIREM MedspaClinical K-Beauty: The Korean Skincare Philosophy Reshaping American Aesthetics
Park was born in Busan, South Korea, and in 1980 she immigrated to New York where she became a Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. Park coined Clinical K-Beauty in her medspa, a term that focuses on integrating coveted Korean technology into her U.S. medspa practices that work deeper than mainstream Asian beauty culture like gua sha stones, jade rollers, sheet masks and cleansings oils, she says.
Korean Beauty at its core, Park says, is about prevention, consistency and skin health, while American beauty has traditionally focused more on correction and enhancement. In Korea, there is a deep cultural emphasis on achieving radiant, youthful skin through layered, gentle treatments performed regularly, she explains, and less focus on dramatic transformations like there is in the U.S.
Rooted in AIREM’s products and services, including exosome facials, rejuvenation treatments, white lotus tea and more is the “gwalle” concept. This principle values the interconnection of beauty and wellness, weaving into each other through intention and purpose to enhance one another. Self-care flows into each service at AIREM, whereas the U.S. values gratification of immediate results and an instant renewal of beauty.
“There’s been a clear decline in the overuse of dermal fillers, also known as ‘filler fatique,’ and a growing interest in energy-based devices and regenerative treatments that focus on improving the skin from within,” Park says regarding U.S. aesthetics where she has seen a noticeable shift toward thoughtful, long-term approaches to beauty.
As part of Park’s dedication to being at the forefront of South Korean innovation, a country widely regarded as the beauty capital of the world, and also ahead of U.S. aesthetic trends, Park regularly visits and actively participates in international aesthetic conferences. She collaborates with leading cosmetic physicians and device manufacturers in South Korea to bring back advanced treatments and technologies to her patients.
Bringing Seoul’s Laser Innovation to the U.S.: Inside AIREM’s Advanced K-Beauty Protocols
“I have the opportunity to do a deep dive into innovative technology, skincare ingredients, devices and treatments, bringing back cutting-edge protocols and advancements to AIREM,” Park says. “Immersing myself in Seoul’s creativity, design and beauty is incredibly inspiring.”
Pico lasers are the gold standard in South Korea, she says, as Korean beauty is rooted in less intense, but consistent improvements. Pico lasers deliver ultra-short pulses in picoseconds, making them more precise and less damaging to surrounding tissue compared to regular lasers, which typically emit longer pulses.
The medspa’s signature Fadeaway Brighten + Tighten laser protocol uses dual-wavelength pico laser technology to target stubborn pigment and collagen loss in the superficial and deeper skin layers. Inspired by K-beauty’s gentle layering of actives and skin barrier-first approach, Fadeaway is also elevated with modalities like fractional RF microneedling and paired with low-inflammatory exosome boosters and LED phototherapy—customized to fit U.S. regulatory standards.
Pico laser technology, additionally, is used for PicoSculpting and PicoTone at AIREM–two laser protocols very popular in Korea, she adds.
PicoSculpting targets skin concerns such as fine lines, wrinkles, uneven texture, enlarged pores and loss of firmness by stimulating collagen production at three different depths of the skin, Park explains, to tighten, smooth texture and restore depleted collagen for a radiant, sculpted appearance. This treatment is effective on the face, neck and chest, and is recommended in a series of 4-8 sessions with customizable settings to make it suitable for a wide range of skin types and concerns.
PicoTone, however, is a light-level picosecond laser treatment designed to tone and tighten skin. It’s a maintenance procedure following more intensive laser treatments, she adds, helping to continuously enhance skin texture and promote collagen production.
“Layering different laser wavelengths in a single session is a highly effective way to target multiple skin concerns efficiently– inspired by visiting a leading device manufacturer in Seoul,” Park says. “Completing the treatment with a regenerative skin booster not only speeds up healing but also elevates the overall results.”
Rooted in AIREM’s products and services, including exosome facials, rejuvenation treatments, white lotus tea and more is the “gwalle” concept. This principle values the interconnection of beauty and wellness, weaving into each other through intention and purpose to enhance one another.Courtesy of AIREM MedspaThe Future of Skin Boosters: How AIREM is Pioneering Next-Gen K-Beauty Treatments in the U.S.
Following laser or other resurfacing treatments, Park teaches her patients that applying a topical skin booster is a key step in enhancing results and recovery, and they’ve become a popular add-on in AIREM protocols.
In the U.S., skin boosters like exosomes and Rejuran (PDRN) are only FDA-approved for topical application, not for injection. PRP, however, can be injected to promote skin rejuvenation. AIREM was an early adopter of skin boosters, Park says. These concentrated serums following intense laser treatments or microneedling, she says, are applied topically to temporarily "open" the skin barrier and allow for deep absorption.
One of the most exciting Korean beauty innovations Park is eager to bring to the U.S. is the next generation of biostimulatory skin boosters—injectables that not only volumize with hyaluronic acid, like PDRN injectables, but also activate collagen production for long-term skin rejuvenation. A 2023 study [1] surveying 235 Korean board-certified dermatologists reported that 88% practiced PN injection for a variety of skin concerns [2].
Once FDA-cleared, biostimulatory skin booster injectables have the potential to redefine the patient experience in U.S. medspas, Park says, just as they already have across Asia for patients seeking minimal downtime and enhanced comfort, especially those with needle sensitivity or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk, she explains.
“These hybrid formulations represent a new category of aesthetic care that merges immediate hydration with regenerative results,” she says. “I'm also closely following the evolution of needle-free delivery systems—devices that use high-pressure technology or electroporation to deliver active ingredients deep into the dermis without the use of traditional needles.”
Merging Tradition with Innovation: Adapting K-Beauty’s Long-Term Philosophy for U.S. Aesthetics
As K-beauty sees its methods integrated more in U.S. skincare and aesthetic treatments, beyond Park’s medspa, she says Korean beauty philosophy is rooted in consistency, and is not about a one-and-done approach, but rather a commitment to monthly treatments that support long-term skin health.
“The key is adapting these global innovations in a way that aligns with U.S. standards without losing the essence of what makes K-beauty so effective—its focus on skin health, natural results and long-term rejuvenation,” Park says. “By thoughtfully curating treatments and formulations, we ensure our patients receive the best of both worlds: the progressive, science-backed principles of clinical K-Beauty, while delivering safe, effective treatments.”
Eunice Park, MD was born in Busan, South Korea, and in 1980 she immigrated to New York where she became a Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. Park coined Clinical K-Beauty in her medspa, a term that focuses on integrating coveted Korean technology into her U.S. practices.Courtesy of AIREM Medspa
Eunice Park, MD was born in Busan, South Korea, and in 1980 she immigrated to New York where she became a Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon. Park coined Clinical K-Beauty in her medspa, a term that focuses on integrating coveted Korean technology into her U.S. practices.Courtesy of AIREM Medspa
Rooted in AIREM’s products and services, including exosome facials, rejuvenation treatments, white lotus tea and more is the “gwalle” concept. This principle values the interconnection of beauty and wellness, weaving into each other through intention and purpose to enhance one another.Courtesy of AIREM Medspa
