South Korea passes cosmetics law to boost exports and tighten oversight

South Korea's National Assembly has passed its first dedicated Cosmetics Industry Promotion Act, a regulatory overhaul that will tighten supply chains and quality controls for the K-beauty products increasingly requested by clinic patients. For medical aesthetics practices sourcing topicals, post-procedure skincare, or active ingredients from South Korean manufacturers, this means a shift toward more standardized, certified clinical supplies within the next year. Under the new law, which takes effect one year after publication, the Ministry of Health and Welfare will assume authority over the entire supply chain and establish a comprehensive support plan every five years. It also introduces an "innovative cosmetics company" certification to fast-track trusted manufacturers.

The legislative push comes as South Korean cosmetics exports rose 12.3 percent to a record 11.4 billion dollars in 2025, up from 10 billion dollars in 2024. However, rapid growth has brought quality and safety challenges. Recalls and disposals of South Korean cosmetics rose to 16 cases in 2025, a 3.2-fold increase from the five cases recorded the year prior. Furthermore, the Korea Customs Service reported that 97.7 percent of seized counterfeit Korean-brand goods last year originated from China. For US practice owners, these figures underscore the rising risk of gray-market and counterfeit topical products entering the aesthetic supply chain. Clinicians should use the one-year transition period to audit their current inventory of South Korean skincare and ensure all products are sourced directly from authorized US distributors rather than third-party online importers.

Source: Personal Care Insights, https://www.personalcareinsights.com/news/south-korea-passes-landmark-law-to-fuel-k-beauty-industry.html