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Licorice Root: Korea's hanbang heritage ingredient 감초

⚡ Quick answer: Licorice Root (감초, gamcho) is a hanbang botanical Korea has used in traditional skincare for generations. In cosmetics, licorice-root extract and its derivatives (such as glabridin) are widely used in brightening and soothing products to help even the look of tone and calm visible redness. Marketed for radiance and comfort, framed as cosmetic rather than therapeutic.

Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza) is one of the most frequently used herbs in traditional Korean and East Asian medicine and is documented in hanbang references such as the Donguibogam, often described as a harmonising herb combined with others in herbal formulas.

🗣️ Licorice Root — Hangul 감초, romanized gamcho, say "GAHM-choh".

In modern K-beauty

In cosmetics, licorice-root extract and its derivatives (such as glabridin) are widely used in brightening and soothing products to help even the look of tone and calm visible redness. Marketed for radiance and comfort, framed as cosmetic rather than therapeutic.

Associated with the look of

pigmentationrednessdullness

Korean brands that feature it

Beauty of Joseon · Hanyul · Sulwhasoo

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✍️ Written & reviewed by the KoreaPlus Editorial team — dermatologist-informed, cosmetic-science researched & source-cited. Last reviewed 2026-06-21.

General educational information using cosmetic structure-function wording — not medical advice. Always patch-test new actives. © KoreaPlus.