Skincare Diplomacy? White House Press Secretary’s South Korean Beauty Spree Is Viral

Last Updated:October 30, 2025, 16:10 IST

Karoline Leavitt’s South Korea skincare haul went viral during Donald Trump’s APEC Summit visit to Gyeongju.

The image featured a curated lineup of 13 Korean beauty products- from sheet masks to brightening serums.

What began as a casual shopping trip turned into a viral moment on the sidelines of high diplomacy as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s South Korean skincare haul became the unexpected highlight of US President Donald Trump’s visit to South Korea for the APEC Summit in Gyeongju.

The 28-year-old aide, accompanying the US President on his Asia tour, took to Instagram to share a story titled “South Korea skincare finds" with a heart emoji. The image featured a curated lineup of 13 Korean beauty products- from sheet masks to brightening serums- neatly arranged on a hotel table. Within hours, the post caught the attention of fans and beauty bloggers.

Though Karoline Leavitt did not disclose where she shopped, several of the products displayed “Olive Young Exclusive" tags- pointing to South Korea’s leading beauty retail chain. Later, Olive Young confirmed that Karoline Leavitt had visited its Hwangnam branch in Gyeongju.

“Leavitt visited the Hwangnam branch the previous afternoon and purchased beauty products. The visit was not scheduled in advance," an Olive Young spokesperson said, adding that she spent about 20 minutes browsing and chatting with locals before stopping for ice cream nearby.

Karoline Leavitt’s viral post coincided with the opening of the APEC ‘K-Beauty Pavilion’- a showcase celebrating South Korea’s skincare and cosmetics innovations. Olive Young reported an increase in visits from foreign delegates during the summit, noting that interest in K-beauty “has never been stronger."

Trump Receives South Korea’s Highest Honour

Donald Trump was formally welcomed by President Lee Jae Myung, who awarded him the Grand Order of Mugunghwa- South Korea’s highest decoration- along with a replica of a golden crown symbolising the historic Silla dynasty.

“This (the golden crown) symbolises the history of Silla, which maintained a long-term era of peace on the Korean Peninsula, and a new era of peaceful coexistence and common growth on the Korean Peninsula that the United States and South Korea will work together for," Lee’s office said in a statement.

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