
Medicube, the skincare brand of Korea’s APR, went on sale at US Costco stores in October 2026 and sits in about 400 of them already. The company’s third quarter results, reported on Nov 1, show record revenue of 773.1 billion won with operating profit up 68.9 percent. Here is where Medicube is sold, what the numbers say, and how other Korean beauty companies fared.
Medicube arrives at Costco
The Korea Times reported on Oct 19, 2026 that Medicube went on sale at Costco’s US stores in October and is now in about 400 of them, with plans to cover all US Costco locations. APR said the rollout to every Costco in Korea was also completed this month, and that Canada and Europe come next. The Costco assortment is a Costco-only package of the Zero Pore Pad, with products from the PDRN line, which contain an ingredient made from salmon DNA, to be added later.

An APR official was quoted as saying that entering Costco will broaden consumers’ access to Medicube and help the company keep expanding its sales base.
Where Medicube is sold in the United States
| Retailer | Reported footprint | When |
|---|---|---|
| Costco | About 400 US stores, with plans to cover all | October 2026 |
| Walmart | About 3,000 stores | June |
| Target | More than 1,500 stores | April |
| Ulta Beauty | About 1,400 stores | August 2025 |
| CVS Pharmacy | About 3,000 stores planned | By the end of 2026 |
The same report says the Zero Pore Pad has ranked first in Amazon’s US category for facial toners and astringents since February 2025. North American sales were 647.9 billion won in the first half of 2026, up more than 260 percent from a year earlier, and have grown about 30 fold since 2021.
The third quarter results
The Korea Herald reported on Nov 1, 2026, citing preliminary figures, that APR posted record third quarter revenue of 773.1 billion won, about 579.8 million dollars and double the level of a year earlier. Operating profit rose 68.9 percent to 160.6 billion won. For the first nine months, revenue was 2.13 trillion won and operating profit 503.5 billion won, already above the company’s full year 2025 results.
Overseas sales rose 135 percent to 722.9 billion won, which is 94 percent of the total. North America made up 46 percent of the quarter and Europe 23 percent, together 69 percent of sales compared with 47 percent a year earlier. By simple arithmetic, 46 percent of 773.1 billion won is about 356 billion won and 23 percent is about 178 billion won. The article does not give figures for Korea or Japan.

The Korea Herald’s Nov 6 sector report adds that APR’s operating margin was 20.8 percent, down from 24.8 percent in the second quarter, and that operating profit fell short of market expectations. It says the won’s 12.6 percent rise against the dollar cut operating profit by an estimated 27.8 billion won. The report puts APR’s market value at about 10 trillion won, or 7.35 billion dollars.
How other Korean beauty companies did
| Company | Third quarter result |
|---|---|
| Amorepacific | Operating profit up 25 percent to 115.2 billion won, sales up 11 percent to 1.13 trillion won |
| Kolmar Korea | Record sales of 828.2 billion won, up 21.3 percent, operating profit up 40.5 percent to 81.9 billion won |
| LG Household and Health Care | Beauty division operating loss narrowed to 10.9 billion won; overseas sales down 12.5 percent, China down 21.1 percent |
The report notes that the lower priced Amorepacific brands Innisfree, Etude and Espoir saw operating profit fall 29 percent and sales fall 12 percent. It also says contract manufacturers such as Kolmar Korea are doing better than brand owners, since they mostly bill Korean clients in won and carry less currency exposure.

Looking ahead to Black Friday
In the Nov 1 report, APR said it expects sales to increase further in key markets during the fourth quarter peak shopping season and plans to expand distribution in North America, Europe and other markets ahead of Black Friday and Christmas, with locally tailored products and promotions. Black Friday falls on Friday, Nov 27, 2026.
Counting the days
The Costco announcement came on Monday, Oct 19. The third quarter report followed 13 days later on Sunday, Nov 1, and the sector report 5 days after that on Friday, Nov 6. Counted from Nov 6, Black Friday on Nov 27 is 21 days away.
Shopping for Medicube in the US
- Check whether your nearest Costco carries Medicube, since the rollout reached about 400 stores in October.
- Look for the Costco-only Zero Pore Pad package, which is the item named in the report.
- Compare with other retailers in the table above, including Walmart, Target and Ulta Beauty.
- Watch for promotions ahead of Black Friday on Nov 27.
- Check back for PDRN line products at Costco, which the report says will be added later.
- Nearest Costco checked
- Zero Pore Pad package found
- Other retailers compared
- Black Friday date noted
Frequently asked questions
Is Medicube sold at Costco?
Yes, in about 400 US stores as of the Oct 19 report, with plans to cover all US Costco locations.
What is sold at Costco?
A Costco-only package of the Zero Pore Pad, with PDRN line products to be added later.
How much did APR earn in the third quarter?
Revenue of 773.1 billion won and operating profit of 160.6 billion won, according to preliminary figures.
How much of APR’s revenue is overseas?
94 percent, or 722.9 billion won.
When is Black Friday in 2026?
Friday, Nov 27.
What is the CVS plan?
About 3,000 CVS Pharmacy stores by the end of this year.
Sources
- Korea Times: APR expands US retail presence as Medicube hits Costco shelves (Oct 19, 2026)
- Korea Herald: APR regional revenue in the third quarter (Nov 1, 2026)
- Korea Herald: K-beauty shines globally, but big players face growing pains (Nov 6, 2026)
Figures checked against these pages on Nov 6, 2026. Percentages and amounts marked as arithmetic were calculated from the reported numbers.