{"id":30,"date":"2026-10-05T19:12:18","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T19:12:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/labelaccord.com\/blog\/?p=30"},"modified":"2026-10-05T19:18:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T19:18:42","slug":"south-korea-clothing-labels-korean-wash-symbols","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/labelaccord.com\/blog\/south-korea-clothing-labels-korean-wash-symbols\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea Clothing Labelling Requirements: Korean Wash Symbols Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

Factual review: 6 October 2026.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Ivory<\/p>\n

AI-generated editorial illustration; not a production-approved label or placement diagram.<\/em><\/p>\n

South Korea has its own national care-symbol system, KS K 0021.<\/strong> Preparing clothing for this market therefore involves more than translating an existing label. Your team needs to check the Korean symbols, their meanings and the other information required for the garment. KATS national standard catalogue<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This guide focuses on ordinary ready-made textile clothing for people aged 14 and above. Infant and children’s textiles and bespoke clothing fall outside the household-textile annex’s scope and need separate assessment. Household textile safety standard, Annex 1, section 1<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Korea has its own care-symbol system<\/h2>\n

The current edition listed by Korea’s official standards portal is KS K 0021:2024<\/strong>, revised on 31 December 2024. It defines textile-care symbols and their presentation. Use that edition when checking artwork; an undated internet chart does not establish which version it represents. KATS catalogue and revision history<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Korean system has recognisable features of its own. Machine washing uses an upright washing-machine outline. Hand-washing marks use a tub with Korean wording.<\/strong> The standard also treats wringing as a separate group alongside washing, bleaching, ironing, professional cleaning and drying. KS K 0021:2024, sections 4.1\u20134.2, official viewer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Some shapes may look familiar. That familiarity is not enough to approve an ISO, European, US or Japanese artwork file for Korean use. Check the actual Korean definition and permitted presentation.<\/p>\n

How to read Korean washing symbols<\/h2>\n

Read the shape, temperature and Korean words together<\/strong>. A temperature alone does not tell you whether the garment permits normal machine washing, gentle washing or hand washing.<\/p>\n

These selected examples explain the current standard in words. They are not a substitute for its production artwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
What appears in the Korean mark<\/th>\nMeaning<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Washing-machine outline with 40\u00b0C<\/strong><\/td>\nNormal machine washing, maximum 40\u00b0C.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Washing-machine outline with 40\u00b0C<\/strong> and \uc57d<\/strong><\/td>\nGentle machine washing, maximum 40\u00b0C.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Washing-machine outline with 30\u00b0C<\/strong>, \uc57d<\/strong> and \uc911\uc131<\/strong><\/td>\nGentle machine washing, maximum 30\u00b0C, using neutral detergent.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tub with \uc190\uc138\ud0c1<\/strong> and 30\u00b0C<\/strong><\/td>\nGentle hand washing, maximum 30\u00b0C; machine washing is not permitted.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Crossed-out water-washing tub<\/td>\nDo not wash in water.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Source: KS K 0021:2024, section 4.2(a), symbols 107, 108, 113, 115 and 118, printed pages 3\u20134<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Korean wording carries part of the instruction<\/h3>\n

In the washing tables, \uc57d<\/strong> indicates gentle treatment, \ub9e4\uc6b0 \uc57d<\/strong> indicates very gentle treatment, \uc911\uc131<\/strong> specifies neutral detergent, and \uc190\uc138\ud0c1<\/strong> identifies hand washing. Removing those words can remove part of the care instruction. KS K 0021:2024, section 4.2(a), printed pages 3\u20134<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For example, the hand-wash entry above expressly excludes machine washing. A washing machine’s programme called \u201chand wash\u201d should not be assumed to satisfy that instruction.<\/p>\n

For artwork approval, ask the factory to identify the selected standard entry as well as supplying the image. That gives the reviewer a meaning to check, instead of a shape to guess.<\/p>\n

Check wringing and drying too<\/h3>\n

The Korean standard includes a twisted-cloth mark crossed out to prohibit wringing. It also uses sun-like circles with wording and shading for some natural-drying instructions: one shaded version specifies hanging on a hanger in the shade. A circle alone does not establish that a Korean mark means dry cleaning.<\/strong> KS K 0021:2024, section 4.2(e)\u2013(f), symbols 502 and 602, printed page 10<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Review the full care instruction after selecting the washing method. A correctly chosen wash temperature does not settle how the garment should be wrung, dried or finished.<\/p>\n

How the symbol standard connects to the law<\/h2>\n

Korea’s household-goods safety notice applies a product-specific annex to household textiles. That annex references the latest editions of its listed standards, including KS K 0021. Safety notice, Article 2<\/a>; Annex 1, section 2<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For clothing covered here, section 7.3.1 requires at least four appropriate kinds of care information, including a water-washing or dry-cleaning method, following KS K 0021’s definitions and presentation rules. It permits Korean text or symbols<\/strong>. Specified other items have exceptions. This is not a universal requirement to print four pictograms. Annex 1, section 7.3.1<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The practical distinction is between deciding what care is appropriate<\/strong> and deciding how to communicate it<\/strong>. Establish the first from the finished garment’s properties and supporting technical evidence, then prepare the Korean information.<\/p>\n

What else belongs on the clothing label<\/h2>\n

For in-scope clothing, the annex lists:<\/p>\n