Overview of the different labeling and marking requirements, including any restrictive advertising or labeling practices and where to get more information. Korea has specific labeling and marking requirements for certain products, such as pharmaceuticals, as well as for organic and functional food and food produced through biotechnology. Details regarding these and other general labeling and marking require
Last Published: 9/8/2020

Korea has specific labeling and marking requirements for certain products, such as pharmaceuticals, as well as for organic and functional food and food produced through biotechnology. Details regarding these and other general labeling and marking requirements can be found on the Foreign Agricultural Service website pertaining to food and agriculture import requirements at FAIRS Country Report (https://apps.fas.usda.gov/newgainapi/api/Report/DownloadReportByFileName?fileName=Food%20and%20Agricultural%20Import%20Regulations%20and%20Standards%20Country%20Report_Seoul_Korea%20-%20Republic%20of_12-31-2019)
Country of origin labeling is required for commercial shipments entering Korea. The Korean Customs Service (KCS) publishes a list of country of origin labeling requirements by Harmonized System Code number (http://portal.customs.go.kr/kcsipt/sso/login.jsp). To learn more about country of origin labeling requirements, please visit http://www.customs.go.kr/kcshome/co/CertificateOfOriginViewNew.do?layoutMenuNo=21027andlayoutSiteId=nullandlayoutType=null.
The Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) issues the KC Mark for items that fall under its jurisdiction, formerly comprised of mandatory certification marks for 13 categories, many of which overlapped in testing procedures and functions. The consolidation of these marks into the KC Mark ensures that companies, both Korean and foreign, will save time and costs due to reduced redundancies introduced into the new system. To learn more, follow this link (http://www.kats.go.kr/kcmark/).
Further labeling and marking requirements for specific products, such as pharmaceutical and food products, are covered by specific regulations from Korean Government agencies responsible for these items. Korean language labels, except for country of origin markings that must be shown at the time of Customs clearance, can be attached locally on products in the bonded area, either before or after clearance.

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