Why Americans Are Panic-Hoarding Korean Sunscreen in 2025
Those 'buy it before it's gone' posts about Korean SPF aren't pure hype — here's what FDA rules really mean for the formula you love.
An April 2025 Korea JoongAng Daily explainer documented US shoppers stockpiling Korean SPF after brands like Round Lab, Beauty of Joseon and Skin1004 reformulated or pulled US products; a single TikTok comparing Korean vs US sunscreen had over 200,000 views, and experts noted Korean filters sold in the US are technically 'unapproved drugs' under FDA rules.
Experts cited in the Korea JoongAng Daily explainer note that many advanced Korean UV filters have never been cleared through the FDA's drug-approval process, so when sold in the US they are technically 'unapproved drugs' — which is why brands sometimes reformulate or pull products rather than risk regulatory trouble.
Questions we get a lot
Why are Korean sunscreens being pulled or reformulated in the US?
Korea approves UV filters as cosmetics, but the FDA regulates sunscreen filters as over-the-counter drugs that need formal approval. Many Korean filters lack that US clearance, making them technically 'unapproved drugs' stateside, so brands sometimes reformulate or pull products. The April 2025 explainer named Round Lab, Beauty of Joseon and Skin1004 among them.
Is the Korean sunscreen I already own unsafe?
The 2025 reporting describes a regulatory mismatch, not a safety recall — Korean filters are widely used and approved in Korea and other markets. 'Unapproved' under FDA rules refers to the US drug-approval status, not a finding of harm. The hoarding is driven by fear of losing access to favored formulas.
r/AsianBeauty: 'Should I actually stockpile my favorite Korean sunscreen, or is the panic overblown?'