Korea is not “notify and forget.” Functional cosmetics have a heavier path. 2025 amendments tightened overseas direct-purchase oversight; a longer safety-assessment reform is staged toward 2028–2031.
Korea Cosmetics Act for SME brands
South Korea regulates cosmetics under the Cosmetics Act, administered by MFDS. Responsible sellers, functional-cosmetic reviews, and the Safety Standards lists are the daily tools; safety-assessment duties are being staged in.
Who should care
Importers and Korean responsible sellers, plus overseas brands selling via local distributors or cross-border retail. Functional claims (whitening, UV, wrinkle, hair dye, etc.) change the file.
Official sources
SME: first 5 things
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1
Register the responsible seller
Korean law hangs duties on the seller, not only the foreign brand owner.
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2
Classify functional vs general
Functional cosmetics need extra evaluation before sale.
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3
Screen Safety Standards lists
Prohibited and restricted ingredients (preservatives, hair dyes, UV filters, colors) are list-based.
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4
Plan for safety-assessment staging
MFDS has signalled pilots in 2026–2027 and phased mandates from 2028 — treat as a multi-year build, not a 2026 cliff for every SME.
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5
Do not ignore overseas direct purchase rules
2025 Cosmetics Act changes target cross-border retail leakage.
Obligation map
| Topic | SME note | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Responsible seller | Business registration and post-market duties | Official |
| Functional cosmetics | Extra evaluation path | — |
| Ingredients | Safety Standards lists | — |
| Labeling | Korean-language mandatory information | — |
Common pitfalls
- Treating Korea as an ASEAN-style notification market
- Using EU CPSR as a drop-in replacement without checking MFDS lists
- Underestimating functional-cosmetic timelines
- Assuming cross-border platforms are outside MFDS reach
More context
What this page covers
English orientation. Binding detail lives in the Korean Cosmetics Act, Enforcement Decree/Rule, and Safety Standards notices on mfds.go.kr.
Recent regulatory updates
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Always confirm requirements against official publications before decisions.