Recently, Korea FDA announced a nationwide recall of multiple toothpaste products manufactured in China after triclosan, a prohibited ingredient under Korean regulations, was found.
All identified products were removed from the market.
Notably, the recall was not limited to small or unknown brands—it included products associated with large, well-established corporations, reinforcing a critical reality: brand size does not replace regulatory compliance.
These products had circulated in the Korean market for several years before the issue was discovered.
The incident prompted broader reflection on ingredient transparency, manufacturing oversight, and the importance of regulatory systems that prioritize public safety over speed or scale.
Korea is widely recognized as one of the most stringent regulatory environments in the world for consumer goods, particularly in food, cosmetics, and personal care.
Its regulatory authority—often compared to or exceeding the standards of the U.S. FDA—operates under a zero-tolerance approach when it comes to prohibited ingredients.
Once a violation is confirmed, Korea does not negotiate with market pressure or brand reputation.
Products are immediately banned and fully recalled, regardless of volume, brand recognition, or commercial impact.
This level of enforcement reflects a core belief embedded in Korea’s regulatory culture:
consumer safety and long-term trust outweigh short-term market convenience.
Triclosan, already restricted or banned in many global markets due to concerns about long-term health and environmental effects, has no place in products sold under Korean standards.
Korea’s response underscores how seriously it treats ingredient integrity and manufacturing accountability.
At Made in Korea (MIK), we see this moment as a clear reminder of why origin, ingredients, and regulation cannot be separated.
MIK will work exclusively with brands whose products are manufactured in Korea, developed under Korea’s regulatory framework, and free from prohibited ingredients such as triclosan.
Our curation is intentional.
We do not prioritize rapid expansion or mass distribution.
We prioritize how products are made, where they are made, and whether they can withstand the highest regulatory scrutiny.
Korean manufacturing operates within one of the world’s most demanding compliance environments.
It is not perfect—but it is accountable, traceable, and enforceable.
