2. Product Categories

Cosmetics
South Korea

This section provides the regulatory definition of the category in scope, or the appropriate category for the product in scope. Additionally, it provides the products that belong to this category along with the definition and specific information on each of these types of products.

2.1 Category Name & Definition

Category Name

Cosmetics

Definition

Any item intended to be used by means of spreading, rubbing, spraying on, or otherwise applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness or brightening the appearance, or maintaining or improving the health of skin and hair, which have light effects on the human body: Provided, that goods constituting medicines defined in subparagraph 4 of Article 2 of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act shall be excluded therefrom.

Cosmetics Categories

In the South Korean market, cosmetics are further classified into 3 different categories

1. General Cosmetic - means any cosmetic that is not a functional cosmetic or a custom cosmetic.
2. Functional Cosmetic - means any of the following cosmetics prescribed by the Ordinance of the Prime Minister:
   1. A product aiding in the whitening of the skin
   2. A product aiding in improving wrinkles in the skin
   3. A product aiding in tanning skin gently or protecting skin from ultraviolet rays
   4. A product aiding in changing or removing the color of hair, or nourishing hair
   5. A product aiding in preventing or improving dryness, splits, loss, cornification, etc. resulting from weakened functions of skin or hair
3. Custom Cosmetic - means any of the following:
   1. A cosmetic made by mixing the contents of a manufactured or imported cosmetic with the contents of any other cosmetic or raw material prescribed by the Minister of Food and Drug Safety.
   2. A cosmetic repackaged by dividing the contents of a manufactured or imported cosmetic into smaller amounts.

      Custom cosmetics can be bulk + bulk, bulk + an ingredient/ingredients, or dividing bulk into small packages. It should be made by an MFDS-approved custom cosmetic compounding manager only.

2.2 Subcategories

1) Natural Cosmetic

Any cosmetic that contains animals or plants, or raw materials derived therefrom, and complies with the standards prescribed by the Minister of Food and Drug Safety.

2) Organic Cosmetic

Any cosmetic that contains organic materials, plants, animals, materials, etc. derived therefrom and complies with the standards prescribed by the Minister of Food and Drug Safety.

3) Baby and Kids Product

If a product claims baby and kids use, its responsible distributor must evaluate safety, record and keep documents in order to sell products to consumers.

4) Classification of cosmetics according to the Enforcement Rule of Cosmetics Act (this list was removed from the Enforcement Rule of Cosmetics Act [2022 Feb 18] but still used in other regulations): 

1. Baby (3 or under)
2. Bath
3. Cleansing
4. Eye
5. Perfume
6. Hair dye
7. Color makeup
8. Hair
9. Nail
10. Shaving
11. Skin Care
12. Preventing body odor
13. Hair removal
    

2.3 References

1. The Article 2 of the Cosmetics Act (English, 2018 December 11)

https://elaw.klri.re.kr/eng_service/lawView.do?hseq=50282&lang=ENG

2. The Article 2 of the Cosmetics Act (Korean, 2022 February 18)

https://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%ED%99%94%EC%9E%A5%ED%92%88%EB%B2%95