Korean Cosmetics Topics
The 7 data pages and 5 guides from Korea Cosmetics Safety Information Group fall under three topics: cosmetics companies in Korea, cosmetics companies by region, and cosmetics labels and company checks. Each topic gathers its data and guides on one page.
As of October 4, 2026, South Korea lists 32,750 entries of registered or notified cosmetics businesses, including 28,358 registrations of responsible sellers and 4,157 registrations of manufacturers.
- GuideManufacturer vs Responsible SellerA cosmetics manufacturer is a party registered for the business of making cosmetics, and a responsible seller is a party registered for the business of distributing and selling those cosmetics while managing their quality and safety.
- GuideWhat Are Customized Cosmetics?Customized cosmetics are cosmetics made by adding the contents of another cosmetic or designated ingredients to the contents of a manufactured or imported cosmetic and mixing them, and cosmetics made by subdividing those contents (Cosmetics Act (화장품법) Article 2(3-2)).
- DataKorean Cosmetics Company Count32,750 entries · 86.6% responsible sellers
- DataCosmetics Registrations by Year2025: 4,431 entries · 2026: 3,721
- DataCustomized Cosmetics Sellers235 notifications · Seoul 90
- DataKorean Cosmetics Company List120 manufacturers · 120 responsible sellers
As of October 4, 2026, manufacturers are most numerous in Gyeonggi-do (1,658 registrations) and responsible sellers in Seoul (10,405 registrations).
- GuideWhy Sellers Outnumber ManufacturersResponsible sellers (화장품책임판매업) outnumber manufacturers (화장품제조업) because 86.8% of the 28,277 business registration numbers with a responsible seller registration, or 24,556, registered as responsible sellers only, without a manufacturing registration.
- DataCosmetics Manufacturers by RegionGyeonggi-do 1,658 · Seoul capital area 61.4%
- DataResponsible Sellers by RegionSeoul 10,405 · Gangnam-gu 2,681
- DataTop Cosmetics Manufacturing AreasNo. 1: Namdong-gu, Incheon 203
Article 10 of the Cosmetics Act (화장품법) requires cosmetics packaging to state the product name, the business operator's trade name and address, the batch number, and a use-by date or period after opening.
- GuideHow to Read a Korean Cosmetics LabelThe label on the back of a Korean cosmetic is made up of the ten required label items set by Article 10(1) of the Cosmetics Act (화장품법). Read them in order: the name, the business operator's trade name and address, all ingredients, the volume, the batch number, and the use-by date or period after opening.
- GuideHow to Check a Korean Cosmetics CompanyTo check whether a Korean cosmetics company is registered, use the company search of MFDS Nedrug, a Korean-language site of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS): choose the business type and enter the business operator's trade name from the package as the company name.