Safety survey of 2,213 household chemical products — 189 overseas direct-purchase products nonconforming (21%), sales blocked and customs holds requested
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
A survey of 2,213 household chemical products by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment found 31 domestically distributed products and 189 overseas direct-purchase products in violation of or nonconforming to safety standards, and their sales were blocked. The list of these products is available on Chorok Nuri (ecolife.mcee.go.kr).
Key facts
| Survey scope | 2,213 domestically distributed and overseas direct-purchase household chemical products — 220 in violation or nonconforming |
|---|---|
| Domestically distributed products | 31 of 1,313 in violation (violation rate 2.4%) — 3.2% in 2024, 3.7% in 2025 |
| Overseas direct-purchase products | 189 of 900 nonconforming (nonconformity rate 21%) |
| Main types of nonconforming overseas direct-purchase products | 75 fragrance and deodorizing products, 69 surface products such as dyes and coatings, 30 adhesive products (92.1% of nonconforming products) |
| Measures | Domestic: sales blocked, then administrative measures such as bans on manufacture and import and recall orders completed / Overseas direct purchase: sellers asked to block sales and Korea Customs Service asked to hold customs clearance |
| Where to check | Chemical product safety portal Chorok Nuri (ecolife.mcee.go.kr) — product names, photos, sellers, URLs and details of violations |
| Inquiries | Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, Chemical Products Management Division, 044-201-6809; Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (한국환경산업기술원) Household Chemical Products Safety Center, 02-2284-1891 |
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The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (기후에너지환경부) announced on September 23, 2026 that a survey of 2,213 household chemical products sold domestically and through overseas direct purchase found 220 products that violated safety standards or did not conform to domestic safety standards. Of 1,313 domestically distributed products, 31 were in violation (violation rate 2.4%), and of 900 overseas direct-purchase products, 189 were nonconforming (nonconformity rate 21%). For the domestic violating products, the ministry recommended suspension of sale and use and requested that online sales be blocked, and then completed all administrative measures such as bans on manufacture and import and recall orders. For the nonconforming overseas direct-purchase products, it pursued blocking their entry into Korea by requesting overseas online sellers to block sales and asking the Korea Customs Service (관세청) to hold customs clearance. Details such as product names, photos and sellers can be checked on the chemical product safety portal 'Chorok Nuri' (초록누리, ecolife.mcee.go.kr).
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
Which overseas direct-purchase products were most often nonconforming?
There were 75 products that add scent or remove odors, such as incense, aroma and fragrance oils, indoor and car air fresheners, and deodorizers; 69 products that add color or protect surfaces, such as car touch-up paint pens, leather and shoe dyes, waterproofing and anti-fog agents, and polishes; and 30 adhesive products, such as nail and eyelash adhesives and adhesives for crafts, jewelry and shoes.
How can I check whether a product I bought is nonconforming?
The product names, product photos, sellers, internet addresses (URLs) where they were sold at the time of the survey, and details of the violation or nonconformity are available on the chemical product safety portal 'Chorok Nuri' (ecolife.mcee.go.kr).
Why are overseas direct-purchase products surveyed separately?
Overseas direct-purchase household chemical products are not subject to the safety standard confirmation and reporting that applies to domestically distributed products, so it is difficult for consumers to check their safety before buying. For this reason, the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment has expanded the volume of safety surveys of overseas direct-purchase products to more than 2,000 per year since last year.