On August 6, 2025, the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor (MoEL) announced the revision of the Standards for Classification, Labeling, and Material Safety Data Sheets of Chemical Substances (MoEL Notice No. 2025-50). The revision took effect from August 7, 2025.

According to industry sources in South Korea, KECO will comprehensively strengthen supervision in the fourth quarter of 2025.

NICS announced a draft revision to its chemical hazard assessment results.

On June 26, 2025, South Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) announced the details of 51 newly manufactured or imported chemical substances through Announcement No. 260 of 2025. The information released includes hazard and risk assessments, annual manufacturing or import volumes, and mandatory worker health protection measures.

South Korea’s Ministry of Environment (MOE) submitted a Partial Revision Notice of Designation and Safety/Labeling Standards for Household Chemical Products Subject to Safety Verification (Draft for Comment) to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on May 28, 2025, proposing enhanced safety management for household chemical products.

On February 27, 2025, South Korea’s Ministry of Environment (MoE) and Ministry of Justice (MoJ) jointly announced the launch of a K-REACH Compliance Grace Period from February 28 to October 27, 2025, during which non-compliant companies may voluntarily declare past violations. Enterprises that proactively admit failures to register, amend registrations, or submit pre-registrations before February 27, 2025, and rectify these gaps, will be exempt from criminal penalties (imprisonment of up to 5 years), fines (up to KRW 100 million), and additional penalties (5% of annual turnover).

On May 26, 2025, the National Institute of Chemical Safety (NICS) of South Korea issued Notice No. 2025-8, amending the Hazard Assessment Results of Chemical Substances (originally announced as Notice No. 2025-5 on February 18, 2025) under the Chemical Substances Registration and Evaluation Act (K-REACH) and its enforcement rules. The amendments take effect immediately upon publication.

Under K-REACH, polymers meeting PLC criteria may qualify for registration exemptions by submitting GPC reports.

Recently, the Ministry of Labor in South Korea, under Article 108(3) of the Industrial Safety and Health Act and Clause 153 of the enforcement rules, officially issued Announcement No. 2025-162, disclosing 72 new chemical substances manufactured and imported in the first quarter of 2025. The hazards, risks, annual manufacturing and import volumes, and measures to prevent worker health damage related to these substances were detailed. Manufacturers and importers of new chemical substances are required to submit a report on the hazards and risks to the Ministry of Labor 30 days before manufacturing or importing these materials.

On February 5, 2025, the South Korean National Assembly officially launched the legislative revision process for the Act on the Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals (K-REACH), aiming to resolve disputes in the joint submission system for chemical substances and fill legal gaps in the replacement procedures for foreign manufacturers’ designated Only Representatives (OR). The revision, undergoing parliamentary review from February 7 to 21, 2025, marks a critical step in enhancing South Korea’s chemical management framework.