Round Lab (Korean: 라운드랩) is a South Korean skincare brand recognized for its approach to combining Korean natural ingredients, minimalist formulations, and gentle daily skincare. The brand has gained prominence in the global K-beauty market, particularly through its signature 1025 Dokdo and Birch Juice product lines. Round Lab describes its philosophy as creating skincare inspired by the Korean Peninsula, specifically drawing from the convergence of sea, mountains, and wind.

The official Korean corporate site identifies Seorin Company Co., Ltd. as the entity behind the brand. Independent business records indicate that Seorin Company was established in November 2017.

Round Lab operates as a “Korean nature → skincare” brand. Rather than centering its identity around a single synthetic active ingredient, the company builds different product collections around places and natural resources associated with specific regions in Korea. This geographic storytelling is a defining characteristic of the brand, which states it searches across Korean land and water for ingredients suitable for skincare.

Key ingredient sources include:

• Ulleungdo / Dokdo: Deep seawater
• Inje: Birch tree sap
• Yangyang: Pine
• Jeongseon: Black soybean
• Mugwort: Soothing botanical care
• Jeju: Camellia

Core Philosophical Pillars

1. Korean Nature: The brand emphasizes ingredients originating from distinctive Korean environments, highlighting the East Sea, Ulleungdo/Dokdo, Taebaek Mountains, and other coastal or mountainous regions.1
2. Gentle Skincare: Round Lab positions itself toward daily, comfortable skincare, focusing on hydration, soothing, and maintaining the skin barrier. The approach involves removing unnecessary complexity to concentrate on formulas that deliver intended benefits.2
3. Sustainability: The brand promotes environmental considerations, including recyclable paper packaging, soy-based environmentally conscious printing ink, and community-oriented activities, aligning with broader “clean beauty” positioning.21

2017: Foundation

Round Lab was established in 2017 under Seorin Company. The initial concept centered on clean, locally sourced Korean ingredients and relatively uncomplicated formulations. Early branding focused on providing consumers with a kind of gentle rest for their skin after a tiring day, utilizing healthy natural ingredients rather than complex chemical structures.2

2018–2019: The Dokdo Breakthrough

The brand’s major breakthrough occurred with the launch of the 1025 Dokdo line, particularly the 1025 Dokdo Toner. According to business reporting, the product grew substantially through word of mouth rather than large-scale marketing campaigns. In 2019, Round Lab entered Olive Young, a leading Korean health and beauty retailer, which accelerated its domestic growth. This period established the Dokdo Toner not just as a portfolio item, but as the product that defined Round Lab’s identity.

2020s: Expansion

Following the success of the Dokdo line, Round Lab expanded into additional ingredient-based collections, including Birch, Mugwort, Black Soybean, Pine Cica, Soybean Panthenol, Camellia, and Niacinamide/Vita Niacin. The company subsequently broadened its international distribution, becoming increasingly visible in the global K-beauty market and operating dedicated international channels, including a U.S. storefront.1

1025 Dokdo Line

The 1025 Dokdo line is considered Round Lab’s signature collection. Its hero ingredient is deep seawater associated with Ulleungdo and Dokdo. The brand states that this deep seawater is extracted from approximately 5,000 feet underwater and that the research behind the ingredient originated from Korean government-supported scientific studies before being applied to skincare.1

The name “1025” refers to October 25, commonly associated in South Korea with Dokdo Day, directly connecting the product to the region rather than using generic “sea water” terminology.

Key products include:

• 1025 Dokdo Toner (Flagship/Bestselling)
• 1025 Dokdo Lotion
• 1025 Dokdo Cleanser
• 1025 Dokdo Cleansing Water
• 1025 Dokdo Ampoule

Birch Juice Line

The second major pillar of the brand is the Birch Juice collection, derived from silver birch trees in Inje, Korea. Round Lab describes birch sap as naturally containing amino acids, minerals, enzymes, proteins, antioxidants, and vitamins.1 This line focuses on hydration, moisture retention, soothing, and supporting the skin barrier.

Notable products include:

• Birch Juice Moisturizing Sunscreen (Internationally prominent)
• Birch Juice Moisturizing Cream
• Birch Juice Moisturizing Ampoule
• Birch Juice Cleansing Products

Other Ingredient Collections

• Pine Cica: Combines pine-derived ingredients with cica/madecassoside for soothing care, targeting stressed or sensitive-feeling skin.1
• Black Soybean: Positioned around nourishment, elasticity, and skin-barrier care, highlighting soybean-derived ceramides.1
• Mugwort: A soothing-oriented range using a gravity-based pure-water extraction method to preserve natural properties.1
• Soybean Panthenol: Combines black soybean-derived ingredients with panthenol for moisturization and barrier support.
• Camellia: Draws from Jeju camellia, emphasizing nourishing and elasticity-focused skincare.
• Vita Niacinamide: Newer products targeting brightening and uneven skin tone.

Round Lab’s current portfolio extends beyond toners to cover various categories:

• Cleansing: Gels, foams, oils/waters, pads.
• Hydration: Toners, lotions, emulsions, ampoules, serums, creams.
• Sun Care: Sunscreens, sun creams, sun sticks.
• Treatment: Brightening, soothing, barrier-care, masks, and pads.
• Other: Body care, baby care, men’s skincare, lip care.

The brand targets customers seeking effective skincare that feels gentle enough for daily use. It appeals to individuals interested in minimalist routines, lightweight textures, and solutions for sensitive-feeling, dehydrated, or compromised skin barriers. While positioned as gentle, individual formulas vary, and consumers are advised to check specific ingredient lists for suitability.2

The brand is operated by Seorin Company (서린컴퍼니). The official website lists the CEO as Lee Young-hak (이영학) and the headquarters in Chuncheon, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea. Multiple logistics facilities are also located in the Chuncheon area.2

Business reporting indicates that Seorin Company was co-founded in 2017 by Lee Young-hak and Jung Seo-rin. The company experienced significant growth following the success of the 1025 Dokdo Toner and its entry into Olive Young in 2019. In 2023, Calips Capital and Meritz Securities reportedly acquired 100% of the founders’ stake in Seorin Company for approximately ₩230 billion, marking a substantial corporate transaction in the Korean cosmetics industry.

Round Lab has transitioned from a primarily domestic label to an international K-beauty brand. Its products are distributed through international beauty retailers and dedicated regional stores, including an official U.S. online storefront.1 Retailers describe the brand as popular both in Korea and internationally.3

The brand’s visual identity plays a key role in its recognition. It avoids highly colorful or playful aesthetics in favor of a quiet, laboratory-meets-nature aesthetic using white, pale blue, beige, muted natural colors, and clean typography. This design communicates purity, water, cleanliness, calmness, science, and Korean nature.

Round Lab products have received recognition within Korean beauty retail and award ecosystems. The 1025 Dokdo Toner is frequently cited as a bestselling or highly recognized product by retailers.13 However, such awards reflect popularity and industry recognition rather than independent clinical superiority over competing products.

Round Lab is a Korean skincare company founded in 2017 that translates distinctive Korean natural resources—especially Dokdo/Ulleungdo deep seawater and Inje birch sap—into minimalist, hydration- and soothing-focused everyday skincare.

1. OUR STORY – Round Lab
2. 라운드랩
3. ROUND LAB: Natural Korean Skincare for Hydrated, Clear Skin