Last updated: June 2026
Editorial Policy
K-Ingredient is a translation publication. We read Korean skincare sources — review platforms, ingredient databases, and regulatory records — and translate what matters into English. This page explains how we choose sources, how translation works, and how we attribute the original material.
What we translate
Our coverage draws on Korean-language primary sources that have no English edition:
- Hwahae (hwahae.co.kr) — Korea's largest beauty-review platform, known for its ingredient-level safety breakdowns. We translate ingredient ratings and review consensus.
- Glowpick (glowpick.com) — Korean product rankings built on consumer reviews, used to cross-check Hwahae consensus.
- MFDS (mfds.go.kr) — Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. We use its functional-cosmetic approvals and ingredient classifications as the regulatory baseline.
- Naver blogs and Korean dermatology commentary — for practitioner perspective and routine context.
How sources are selected
- Regulatory and platform data first, individual opinions second. An ingredient's MFDS classification and Hwahae rating carry more weight than any single reviewer.
- We prefer sources that publish their methodology (rating criteria, review counts) so claims can be checked.
- We do not translate sponsored placements or paid reviews as if they were editorial. When a Korean source marks content as an ad (광고/협찬), we either skip it or label it.
How translation works
We use AI translation tools (including large language models) to read and draft translations from Korean, with editorial review before publication. Specifically:
- AI does the heavy lifting: reading Korean source pages, drafting English translations, and summarizing review consensus across many posts.
- Editorial review covers the claims: ingredient names (INCI), safety classifications, product names, and prices are checked against the original source before publishing.
- Ingredient terminology is standardized: Korean ingredient names are mapped to their INCI equivalents so readers can compare against the labels they actually see.
Attribution
Every article that draws on a Korean source cites that source, with a link to the original Korean page where one exists. We treat the original platforms and the MFDS as the authority — we are the translation layer, not the origin of the data.
Independence and affiliate disclosure
- No brand pays for coverage, placement, or ratings. Scores reflect the Korean source data, not commercial relationships.
- Some outbound links are affiliate links and may earn us a commission at no cost to you. This never changes what we cover or how we rate it. See our affiliate disclosure.
Not medical advice
We translate and summarize published research and platform data. We do not diagnose skin conditions or prescribe treatment. For persistent skin concerns, see a dermatologist.
Corrections
Korean formulations, ratings, and regulations change. If you find an error — a mistranslation, an outdated safety rating, a reformulated product — email us and we will verify against the original source and correct the article, noting the update date.