K-Beauty · Published 2026-11-03

How to Read a Korean Cosmetics Label: Required Information and Key Korean Terms

Short answer: Under Korea’s Cosmetics Act, the package must show the product name, the business operator’s name and address, the ingredients, the amount of contents, a batch number, an expiry date or a period of use after opening, the price, cautions for use, and, for functional cosmetics, the words “functional cosmetic” (기능성화장품) or an official design. Small packages have some exceptions. Below is each item with the Korean wording to look for.

This guide is based on the English and Korean text of the Cosmetics Act (Article 10) and the Enforcement Rule (Article 19) on the Korea Legislation Research Institute site, plus an MFDS page on functional cosmetics. The Act text checked lists amendments up to Act No. 20512 of 22 October 2024. The Enforcement Rule page checked showed amendments only to 2013 on the parts I used and may be an older version, so treat the details of exemptions as something to confirm with MFDS.

What the Act says must be printed

Article 10(1) of the Cosmetics Act lists these items for the package (the primary package, the container touching the product, or the secondary package, the outer box), with exceptions for small packs:

Article 10(2) adds that the primary package itself must show at least four things: the product name, the operator’s trade name, the batch number, and the use-by date or period after opening. Article 10(3) allows the product name and trade name to also be given in Braille.

Extra items in the Enforcement Rule

Article 19(4) of the Enforcement Rule adds further required markings. As translated on the site, these include:

• Barcode as set by MFDS.
• For functional cosmetics, the reviewed or reported efficacy, effects, method of use and dosage.
• If an ingredient’s name is part of the product name, the name and content of that ingredient (fragrance products excluded).
• The content of any human cell or tissue material.
• For products labelled or advertised as organic farming, the content of those materials.
• For imported cosmetics, the country of manufacture (it can be left out if the country of origin is marked under the Foreign Trade Act) and the manufacturer’s name and location.

Exceptions for small packages

According to Article 19(1), a very small package (the threshold is given around 10 ml or 10 g; the wording of the English translation is ambiguous on whether this means “at most” or “at least”, so check the exact figure with MFDS), or a free sample not for sale, only needs the product name, the operator’s trade name and the price. For secondary packaging of samples, a label such as “sample” or “not for sale” takes the place of the price.

For packages of 10 to 50 ml or g, Article 19(2) says most ingredients may be left off, except certain ones such as tar colors, gold foil, AHA (alpha hydroxy acids) and the efficacy-giving ingredients of functional cosmetics. If ingredients are left off, the label must give a phone number or website where all ingredients can be checked, or printed materials must be kept at the store (Article 19(5)). Ingredients that do not remain in the final product are also exempt (Article 19(2)).

Glossary of common label words

The first group comes from the Act. The last two are terms that appear in shops and are explained as commonly understood; This guide did not find them defined on the pages checked, so treat them as informal.

Functional cosmetics

The Act defines functional cosmetics by purpose: products that help whiten skin, improve wrinkles, protect skin from ultraviolet light or tan it gently, change or remove hair color or nourish hair, or prevent or improve dryness, splitting, hair loss or cornification caused by weakened skin or hair function. MFDS says the responsible seller must have such products evaluated or reported. For these products the label must carry the reviewed or reported efficacy and method of use.

What this guide cannot tell you

• The exact print size, layout and order of ingredients are set in Appendix 4 of the Enforcement Rule, which was not on the page checked.
• The wording of the usage cautions is in Appendix 3, which was also not available on the pages checked.
• The meaning of the batch number format and expiry date format is not described on the pages checked.

Quick checklist

• Is there a product name, operator name and address?
• Is the contents amount shown in ml or g?
• Do you see either a 사용기한 date or a 개봉 후 사용기간 symbol or number?
• Is an ingredient list present, or a phone number or website for it on small packs?
• For sunscreens or whitening products, does the label say 기능성화장품?
• For an imported product, is the country of manufacture shown?

Common mistakes

• Assuming a missing ingredient list means a missing label. Small packs may use a phone number or website instead.
• Mixing up 사용기한 (a fixed date) with 개봉 후 사용기간 (time after opening).
• Reading “functional” as a medical claim. It is a legal category defined in the Act.

This guide is general information, not legal or medical advice. Labelling rules and exemptions can change, so confirm them with MFDS or the Korea Consumer Agency.

Sources

• Korea Legislation Research Institute: Cosmetics Act, Article 10 (English/Korean)
• Korea Legislation Research Institute: Enforcement Rule of the Cosmetics Act, Article 19
• MFDS (English): Cosmetics and Functional Cosmetics approval process

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• Taking Korean Cosmetics Home: Tax Refund Rules and Carry-On Liquid Limits
• Korean Sunscreen SPF and PA Ratings Explained: What the Numbers and Plus Signs Mean