Contact

We read everything that comes in.

Email

224shadow@gmail.com

What to write about

  • Corrections. If a fact, figure, or date in an article is wrong, tell us which article and what is wrong. We will check it against the source and correct it.
  • Story tips. Something happening in the Korean market that English coverage has missed.
  • Questions. If you are trying to buy something and cannot work out whether it is available where you live, ask — it often turns into an article.
  • Press and business. Brands and agencies are welcome to get in touch. See the note below first.

A note for brands

We do not accept payment in exchange for coverage, positive mentions, or placement in a ranking. We do not publish sponsored posts written by third parties. Product selections are based on published data and named sources, not on commercial relationships.

This site carries advertising and may use affiliate links. Where affiliate links appear, they are disclosed at the top of the article. Those arrangements never determine what we cover or what we recommend.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Seoul BBQ Festival 2026: Book a Grill or Just Visit?

Image
Seoul’s barbecue festival is scheduled for October 24–25, 2026 at Nanji Campground . Entry is free, while food and self-grill tables cost extra. Seoul’s notice marks both advance reservation releases as closed; an unreserved visitor can plan around the prepared-food area. What does “free” actually cover? The Korea Tourism Organization lists the festival as free, but that is an admission description, not an all-inclusive meal offer. The organizer's FAQ confirms that entry is free and food is paid for separately. A visitor can enter without buying a self-grill table. If you want to do the grilling The organizer lists ₩20,000 per charcoal-grill table or ₩10,000 per gas-burner-and-griddle table . Those are table fees, not per-person meal prices. Meat and vegetables cost extra; equipment, reusable tableware and sauces are provided. Budget for the ingredients as well as the reservation. Photo by Daniel on Unsplash The city notice now marks both the September 16 and Octob...
Read more

Korean vs US Sunscreen: What Changed in 2026

Image
Korea and the United States permit different sunscreen-filter toolkits and use different UVA labels. FDA added bemotrizinol to the US OTC sunscreen monograph in June 2026, but a Korean formula still needs to satisfy US requirements before it can be sold as a US sunscreen. Start with the exact version, its active ingredients and its label. Photo by Maria Lupan on Unsplash Korean cosmetic-safety annex: 32 entries; US OTC sunscreen monograph: 17 actives. Product-specific NDA approvals are outside this comparison. Sources rechecked October 14, 2026. The filter gap, in numbers Sunscreen is regulated as a functional cosmetic in Korea, overseen by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS). In the United States it is regulated as an over-the-counter drug by the FDA. That single classification difference drives almost everything else. Korea’s cosmetic-safety annex contains 32 UV-filter entries after its March 18, 2026 amendment. The US OTC sunscreen monograph contains 17 after ...
Read more

PA+++ vs Broad Spectrum: Reading a Korean Sunscreen Label

Image
A Korean PA label and a US Broad Spectrum claim report UVA protection in different ways. PA has four PFA-based bands; Broad Spectrum requires a critical wavelength of at least 370 nm. Neither label can be translated directly into the other. Photo by Ana azuria on Unsplash Source: MFDS, September 8, 2016. PA++++ took effect in December 2016. United States (FDA) South Korea (MFDS) UVA claim on the label "Broad Spectrum" — pass/fail only PA+ to PA++++ — a four-tier scale What determines the claim Critical wavelength of at least 370nm PFA (Protection Factor of UVA) value Current test method In vitro, PMMA plate — no human test required for this claim In vivo, human skin-tanning test SPF test Separate, in vivo human test (21 CFR 201.327(i)) Separate, in vivo human test FDA test parameters follow its sunscreen labeling guidance. PA thresholds follow MFDS’s September 8, 2016 announcement. Regulatory history corrected October 14, 2026. What "Broad Spectrum" Actu...
Read more