This screenshot image was taken from the Cosmoprof North America website.
SEOUL, July 24 (AJU PRESS) — Dozens of South Korean beauty companies suffered a major blow at Cosmoprof North America, a prestigious industry trade show in Las Vegas, after a container loaded with exhibits was stolen on the way to the venue.
The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) said on Wednesday that a container loaded with products from 70 South Korean companies was stolen while being transported from the Port of Long Beach in Los Angeles to a trade fair in Las Vegas.
The theft occurred just days before the three-day event kicks off on Tuesday (local time).
A KITA official said, “It appears that the truck driver fell victim to a voice phishing scam and was instructed to leave the vehicle somewhere else as it was not allowed to be brought into the exhibition venue.”
Now in its 21st year, Cosmoprof North America is considered one of the top three beauty trade shows in the world.
Around 120 Korean companies are participating in the event through the national pavilion organized by the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises (KBIZ).
As of Monday evening, many booths in the South Korean pavilion remained empty due to missing items.
The affected companies used logistics companies designated by Korean agent K. Of these, 35 companies were supported by KBIZ, six by KITA and the Gangnam-gu Office in Seoul, six by Hwaseong City in Gyeonggi Province, and the remaining companies participated individually.
They scrambled to find alternatives: Four of the KBIZ-backed companies had employees transport items in suitcases before the fair opened; 31 others quickly air-shipped replacement goods, hoping to have their booths up and running by the second day of the fair; four of the six KITA-backed companies sourced goods locally from U.S. warehouses, and the remaining two sent goods by air.
Reporter
Kim Ju-heon jhkim123@ajunews.com
