Korea Market Access | K-REACH Registration, Notification & OR Services

For companies placing chemical substances, mixtures, or consumer products on the Korean market, K-REACH compliance should be planned before shipment, customer onboarding, or volume expansion. The key questions are whether the substance is new or existing, whether registration, notification, exemption, or PMC notification applies, and who will legally manage the obligation in Korea.

REACH24H helps overseas manufacturers and exporters determine the applicable K-REACH route, appoint an Only Representative where needed, prepare dossiers, manage registration deadlines, and maintain compliant supply chain communication with Korean importers and downstream users.

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Introduction

Navigating South Korea's complex chemical regulatory landscape presents significant challenges for overseas manufacturers and importers. Non-compliance with K-REACH regulations carries grave consequences, ranging from substantial financial penalties and supply chain disruptions to potential criminal liability.

This guide offers a definitive roadmap to K-REACH compliance. It details the scope of regulated entities, registration and notification, and critical supply chain mandates. Furthermore, we outline enforcement mechanisms and provide strategic insights to ensure your business maintains a seamless and compliant market presence in Korea.

Quick compliance check: Before exporting chemicals to Korea, companies should confirm whether the substance is new or existing, whether annual volume exceeds the relevant threshold, whether an Only Representative is needed, whether exemption applies, and whether Korean SDS, labeling or PMC notification obligations are triggered.

What is K-REACH / Korea REACH?

K-REACH or Korea REACH, officially titled Act on Registration and Evaluation, etc. of Chemicals, is the Korean chemical registration and evaluation law that came into effect on January 1, 2015. A comprehensive amendment was approved by the Korean National Assembly on February 28, 2018, and enforced on January 1, 2019.

Further major revisions are scheduled for 2025, such as new substance notification thresholds, hazard determination standards, and interlinkages with the Chemical Control Act (K-CCA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (K-OSHA). For more detail on the 2025 amendment, please see K-REACH 2025 Amendments: New Thresholds, Hazard Categories, and Compliance Obligations.

Under K-REACH, any new or existing chemical substance manufactured or imported at ≥1 ton per year (1 t/a) must be registered with the Ministry of Environment (MoE) before being placed on the Korean market.

Who Must Comply with K-REACH?

Entities subject to K-REACH include:

Entity Type	Typical Obligation	Key Business Concern
Domestic manufacturers and importers	Registration, notification, exemption application, PMC notification and supply chain communication where applicable.	Direct legal responsibility in Korea.
Foreign manufacturers exporting chemical substances to Korea	Compliance through an Only Representative (OR) or Korean importer.	Control over trade rights, customer confidentiality and compliance continuity.
Manufacturers of products containing Priority Management Chemicals	PMC notification when relevant concentration and annual tonnage thresholds are met.	Product-level notification and downstream consumer product compliance.

Notification under K-REACH

Under K-REACH, notification is a distinct compliance obligation separate from registration.

Notification mainly targets low-tonnage new chemical substances and certain new polymers. Failure to notify, or submission of incomplete or incorrect classification data, will result in the substance being designated by MoE as an Unknown Hazard Classification Substance.

New substances with an annual manufacturing or import volume <1 t/a are not subject to registration; however, they must complete notification and obtain approval from the MoE before manufacture or import.

2025 threshold note: The 2025 amendment raised the prior new substance registration threshold from 0.1 t/a to 1 t/a. However, low-volume new substances below 1 t/a still require notification before manufacture or import.

Korea REACH Registration

New Substance Registration

A new substance is defined as any substance not listed on the Korea Existing Chemicals List (KECL), the latest version of which was updated in August 2025 by the MoE. This definition covers substances that have never been manufactured, imported, or circulated in Korea, or substances that have not yet been officially recognized or classified by the MoE.

Tonnage Threshold: New substances at ≥1 t/a must be registered before manufacture or import. The 2025 amendment raised the prior threshold from 0.1 t/a to 1 t/a.

Note: No grace period applies to new substances. Registration must be completed before production or import; non-compliance can result in fines up to 100 million KRW or imprisonment of up to 5 years.

Existing Chemicals Registration

An existing chemical substance refers to any substance already listed on the Korea Existing Chemicals List (KECL) and having a confirmed record of circulation in the Korean market. This includes hydrates of existing substances as well as multi-component substances in which every constituent is an existing substance.

Tonnage Threshold: Existing substances manufactured or imported at ≥1 t/a are subject to registration. The registration schedule is phased according to annual tonnage and hazard classification, allowing companies to comply progressively.

Registration Types of Existing Chemicals Registration Under K-REACH

K-REACH applies a framework similar to that of the EU REACH Regulation for existing substances, encompassing three stages:

Stage	Description	Business Implication
Pre-registration	Existing substances with an annual quantity of more than 1 t/a, calculated based on the highest annual volume during 2016–2018, were required to complete pre-registration by June 30, 2019, in order to obtain a grace period.	Companies that completed pre-registration may benefit from applicable grace periods.
Late Pre-registration	From July 1, 2019, companies manufacturing or importing relevant substances may still submit a late pre-registration before the export volume surpasses 1 ton per year to secure the applicable grace period.	Late pre-registration should be completed before exceeding 1 t/a.
Registration	Enterprises must complete registration within the respective grace period defined for their tonnage and hazard band.	Failure to complete registration before the deadline may lead to a manufacture or import ban.

Registration of Specified Substances

Specified substances refer to those deemed “low-volume but high-risk” or “high-circulation but insufficiently regulated” under K-REACH. This category includes:

Newly manufactured or imported chemical substances whose total annual volume in Korea exceeds 1 ton; or
Existing chemical substances whose total annual volume exceeds 10 tons.

The identification of specified substances is based on the “Specified Substances Registration List” officially announced by the MoE. The scope generally covers industrial sectors such as pharmaceutical intermediates, electronic chemicals and food-contact material chemicals.

Although the individual enterprise’s annual tonnage may fall below 1 t/a, these substances are subject to enhanced regulatory oversight because of their high cumulative national circulation volume and potential risk to human health and the environment.

K-REACH Registration Exemption

The following cases may be exempt from Korea REACH registration; however, an application for registration exemption must be submitted:

Exemption Scenario	Compliance Note
Chemical substances imported/manufactured for export-only use	Includes substances imported or manufactured to make export-only products.
Chemical reagents	Supporting evidence should be prepared to demonstrate reagent use.
Surface-treated substances	Substance identity and surface treatment relationship should be reviewed carefully.
Non-isolated intermediates or on-site isolated intermediates	Applicable when leakage or exposure can be technically blocked.
Polymers of low concern (PLC)	PLC criteria and supporting documentation should be reviewed before application.
Substances for R&D use	Covers development of chemical substances or products, process improvement, application testing, trial production or pilot manufacturing.

R&D use may include:

Development of chemical substances or their products;
Improvement or development of processes;
Testing of chemical applications;
Trial production or pilot manufacturing of products.

K-REACH's Grace Period

The K-REACH registration grace period refers to the transitional compliance period granted to existing chemical substances, allowing companies sufficient time to complete testing, prepare dossiers, and complete registration.

Different categories of substances are assigned different grace period deadlines. The 2025 K-REACH revision does not change the existing grace period timeline; however, it significantly strengthens compliance supervision during the grace period.

New Chemical Substances – No Grace Period

New substances do not benefit from any grace period. Companies must complete:

registration for ≥1 t/a; or
new substance notification for <1 t/a;

before manufacturing in Korea or importing into Korea for the first time.

If a company manufactures or imports a new substance without prior registration or notification, it will be subject to the heaviest penalties, and shipments may be detained or destroyed under K-REACH.

510 Priority Existing Chemicals (PECs) – Grace Period Already Expired

The grace period for the 510 Priority Existing Chemical Substances (PECs) ended on June 30, 2018.

For these substances, companies must complete registration before manufacture or import, with no remaining grace period available.

Other Existing Substances (Excluding 510 PECs)

For other existing chemical substances, the grace period is determined based on annual manufacture/import volume and hazard classification. Companies must carefully assess their tonnage band and risk category to identify the applicable registration deadline.

Failure to complete registration within the grace period will result in a ban on manufacture or import in Korea.

Substance Category / Tonnage Band	Registration Deadline	Current Compliance Status
≥1000 t/a existing substances & CMR substances (364 substances)	31 Dec 2021	Expired. Registration required before manufacture or import.
100–1000 t/a existing substances	31 Dec 2024	Expired. Registration required before manufacture or import.
10–100 t/a existing substances	31 Dec 2027	Active preparation stage. Data gap analysis and dossier preparation should be underway.
1–10 t/a existing substances	31 Dec 2030	Longer preparation window, but pre-registration status and tonnage tracking remain essential.

PMC Notification under K-REACH

Consumer products containing Priority Management Chemicals (PMC) must be notified before manufacture or import.

What is PMC?

Priority Management Chemicals are risk-posing chemical substances that fall under any of the criteria indicated below:

May cause, or are suspected of causing cancer, gene mutations, reproductive toxicity, or endocrine disruption in humans or animals;
Have high bioaccumulation potential and are persistent in the environment;
May cause damage to major human organs, such as lungs, liver, or kidneys, upon exposure;
Exhibit hazard levels equivalent to or higher than those listed in categories 1 to 3 above.

Currently, the MoE has designated 699 substances as PMCs.

What Consumer Products are Subject to PMC Notification?

A consumer product is subject to PMC notification only if both of the following conditions are met:

The concentration of a PMC in an individual product exceeds 0.1%; and
When considering all products together, the total quantity of the PMC substance with more than 0.1% concentration exceeds 1 tonne.

Information Requirements for PMC Notification

Information Type	Details Required
Notifier information	Company and responsible party information.
Name of the PMCs	Substance name and identifying information.
Concentration and annual tonnage	Concentration of the PMC in the product and total annual tonnage placed on the market.
Product information	Product photographs and instructions for use.
Use and exposure information	Intended product use and major human exposure routes.
Classification and labeling	Product classification and labeling information.

Supply Chain Communication

The K-REACH regulation establishes clear obligations for information communication along the entire supply chain, creating a full lifecycle safety management system for chemical substances. These requirements apply to every stage of a chemical substance’s journey, from manufacture and import to distribution and end-use.

Key obligations include:

Downstream Use Information: Downstream users must provide accurate information on the actual uses of substances to assist upstream companies in meeting their K-REACH compliance obligations.
Safety Data Sheets (SDS): Both substances and products exported to Korea must be accompanied by a Safety Data Sheet compliant with Korean GHS requirements, ensuring that all hazards are properly communicated. For Korean MSDS support, please see Korean MSDS Submission & CBI Application Service.
Safety Labeling: Appropriate safety labels must be provided on substances and products.

How Overseas Companies Can Comply with Korea REACH?

Overseas companies exporting chemical substances or consumer products to Korea have two main compliance strategies under K-REACH:

Compliance Strategy	Advantages	Considerations	Suitable For
Strategy 1: Appoint an Only Representative (OR) or Establish a Korean Subsidiary	Full control over regulatory obligations and trade rights in Korea; greater flexibility in market expansion.	Higher compliance costs.	Overseas companies seeking to actively manage their Korean market presence and maintain long-term control over business operations.
Strategy 2: Fully Delegate Compliance to a Korean Importer	Lower upfront compliance costs.	Loss of direct control over trade rights and regulatory compliance; potential interruption or suspension of Korean trade if the importer fails to comply; possible disclosure of confidential business information to the importer.	Companies prioritizing short-term cost savings, but this carries higher operational and legal risks.

Enforcement and Penalties under Korea REACH

K-REACH establishes strict penalties to ensure compliance, as outlined in Articles 50, 51, 52, and 54. The severity of penalties depends on the nature and seriousness of the violation.

Penalty Level	Applicable Cases
Up to 5 Years Imprisonment or KRW 100 Million Fine	Failure to register or submit false registration/notification; failure to submit or false submission of registration amendments; failure to notify or false notification of consumer products containing PMCs.
Up to 3 Years Imprisonment or KRW 50 Million Fine	Failure to submit or false submission of registration exemption applications; use or sale of unregistered chemical substances.
Up to 1 Year Imprisonment or KRW 30 Million Fine	Failure to communicate information downstream or providing false information; obtaining registration data through improper means.
Up to KRW 10 Million Fine	Failure to amend or false amendment of exemption-related information; failure to conduct a joint registration without obtaining approval for individual registration; failure to notify or submitting false information regarding changed data; failure to maintain required registration dossiers and records.

Need to determine whether your substances require K-REACH registration, notification or exemption?

REACH24H can help overseas companies assess substance status, appoint an OR, prepare dossiers, manage registration deadlines and maintain supply chain communication in Korea.

Contact Our Korea Compliance Specialists

REACH24H Compliance Services

We provide a comprehensive range of services to help companies ensure compliance with Korea K-REACH regulations:

Service Area	What REACH24H Supports
Only Representative (OR) Appointment Services	Acting as the legal representative for overseas companies in Korea.
Lead Registrant Services (Joint Submission)	Coordinating joint registrations under K-REACH.
Data Retrieval and Quality Assessment	Searching for existing data and evaluating its reliability for regulatory submission.
Data Sharing Agency Services	Facilitating lawful sharing of data among registrants.
Chemical Risk Assessment Report Preparation and Submission	Preparing risk assessment dossiers in compliance with K-REACH requirements.
Product Notification Services	Assisting companies in preparing and submitting notifications for products, particularly those containing Priority Management Chemicals.
Exemption Documentation Preparation and Submission	Drafting and submitting registration or notification exemption materials.
Annual K-REACH Regulatory Consulting	Providing ongoing regulatory updates and guidance.
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and Labeling	Preparing Korean GHS-compliant SDS and labels.
New Substance Notification and Registration Services	Handling all steps for new chemical substances under K-REACH.
Data Gap Analysis	Identifying missing or insufficient data required for compliance.
Laboratory Supervision	Overseeing testing procedures to meet K-REACH standards.
Compliance Strategy Development	Crafting actionable regulatory compliance plans.
Regulatory Training	Providing training sessions on K-REACH requirements and compliance best practices.

For more information and inquiries about K-REACH, please feel free to contact us at customer@reach24h.com.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the key changes in the 2025 K-REACH revision?

A1: The main change is the adjustment of the notification threshold for new substances. The threshold for new substance notification has been raised from 0.1 t/a to 1 t/a, clearly distinguishing “notification” (<1 t/a) from “registration” (≥1 t/a).

Additionally, the amendment refines the classification of hazardous substances, strengthening interlinked regulatory oversight with K-CCA (Chemical Control Act) and K-OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Act) based on toxicological properties. The revision also clarifies Only Representative (OR) transfers, ensuring legal continuity for previously compliant registrants and defining the rules for OR succession.

Q2: Do overseas companies exporting chemicals to Korea need to appoint an Only Representative (OR)?

A2: Yes. Under K-REACH, overseas manufacturers cannot directly submit registration or notification dossiers to the Korean MoE. They must appoint an OR located in Korea to fulfill compliance obligations. The OR acts as the official liaison with Korean regulatory authorities and assumes legal responsibility. Alternatively, overseas companies may establish a Korean subsidiary, which can act as the direct compliance entity.

Q3: Are additional compliance documents required for substances claiming registration exemptions?

A3: Yes. Even if a substance qualifies for an exemption, companies must submit a Registration Exemption Application Form along with supporting evidence, such as proof of use as a reagent, for research purposes, exclusively for export, or low-concern PLC polymers. Exemption is only granted after review and approval by the MoE.

Q4: How long does it typically take to register a new substance without a grace period?

A4: The registration timeline depends on substance tonnage and availability of global data. Typically:

Use data collection and dossier preparation: 3 months;
Human and ecological toxicology testing: 6 to 18 months, depending on experimental complexity.

Overseas companies are strongly advised to plan in advance and complete the registration process before the first export to Korea.

Q5: What happens if an existing substance that was pre-registered is not formally registered after the grace period?

A5: Once the grace period ends, existing substances that have not completed formal registration are prohibited from manufacture or import in Korea. Continued distribution of such substances will be treated as “unregistered substances”, subject to substantial fines, and responsible individuals may face criminal penalties.

Services

Master K-REACH Compliance: A Guide to Korea REACH Registration

Introduction

What is K-REACH / Korea REACH?

Who Must Comply with K-REACH?

Notification under K-REACH