KorExBridge
This month we answered a wave of business inquiries. A reseller in Texas. A salon in Pennsylvania. A skincare shop in Miami. A distributor in the Netherlands. Most of them asked the same questions. This guide answers them with the terms we actually use.
In this article
Three Kinds of Korean Suppliers
| Sourcing agent | Brand partner | Package forwarder | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Buys any Korean brand for you and checks it | Supplies one brand at its wholesale price | Only ships what you bought yourself |
| Best for | Mixed brands and test orders | Volume of one brand | People who can pay Korean stores |
| Our terms | 5% fee · from $1,000 | From USD 8,000 · FOB Korea | Not a service we offer |
Many Korean stores do not accept foreign cards or ship abroad. So most small businesses need someone in Korea who can buy for them. That is the main difference between an agent and a package forwarder.
Five Questions to Ask
- 1
What is the fee?
Ask whether it is a percentage and what it is a percentage of. Ours is 5% of the product total for business orders. Shipping is separate and quoted from the real cartons.
- 2
What is the minimum order?
Our sourcing orders start at $1,000 in products. Brand partner orders start at USD 8,000 with no minimum quantity per product.
- 3
Can you supply the brands I want?
Retail brands are easy to buy. Licensed categories are not. Ask about your exact product list before you plan around it.
- 4
Who is the importer?
Usually you are. That means duty and product rules in your country are yours. A good agent gives you a commercial invoice and packing list.
- 5
What are the shipping terms?
Door delivery by FedEx or air cargo is simple for small orders. Brand orders often use FOB Korea. Then the freight is booked and paid on your side.
What an Agent Cannot Do
Authorization letters for retail brands. An agent that buys from Korean retailers is not the brand's distributor. It cannot give you a letter of authorization for those brands.
Licensed brands. Pharmaceutical and dermocosmetic brands such as Rejuran need a distribution license. We do not hold one yet. So we cannot supply them. Injectable treatments are medical devices and we do not buy or ship them.
Make a global brand cheaper. Some brands sold in Korea are imported from the US. NeeDoh is one example. Their standard models can cost less in the US. Sourcing from Korea makes sense for Korea only items. A good agent tells you this before you order.
Guarantee a brand's export price. Some brands do not sell for export at all. Some only work with one distributor per country. An honest agent checks this first.
Example: A Salon Order
A hair salon asked for five Korean hair care products with 10 units of each. Here is how that order prices out with our business terms.
We estimate weight at about 1 g per ml. So 20 bottles of 500 ml shampoo are about 10 kg. Add the smaller items and a 1 kg carton and the box comes to about 15.5 kg. The final shipping is set after we pack and weigh it.
Selling in Europe
We ship business orders to Europe including the Netherlands. In the EU the importer must name a Responsible Person and notify each product in the CPNP portal before selling. Labels must meet EU rules. Plan this before your first order.
In the US the importer handles duty and FDA cosmetics rules. Sunscreen is regulated as a drug there. Toys sold in the US must meet CPSC rules. Our guide to buying Korean skincare wholesale covers the US side in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Korean sourcing agent charge?
Most agents charge a percentage of the product total. Our fee for business orders is 5% of the product total with orders from $1,000. Shipping is quoted separately from the real cartons.
What is the minimum order with a Korean sourcing agent?
It depends on the agent. Our sourcing orders start at $1,000 in products and you can mix brands. Orders through our Korean skincare brand partner start at USD 8,000 with no minimum quantity per product.
Can a Korean sourcing agent give me brand authorization letters?
Only for brands it supplies directly. An agent that buys from Korean retailers cannot give authorization letters for those brands. If you need one ask before you order.
Can I buy Rejuran or other dermocosmetic brands through an agent?
Pharmaceutical and dermocosmetic brands need a distribution license. We do not hold one yet so we cannot supply them. Commercial K-beauty brands such as Celimax and VT Cosmetics are fine.
What does FOB Korea mean?
FOB means the seller delivers the goods cleared for export at the Korean port. From there the buyer pays the main freight. With our brand partner the brand's contracted forwarder ships the goods and you pay the freight to the forwarder directly.
Do I need anything to sell Korean skincare in Europe?
Yes. The importer needs an EU Responsible Person and must notify each product in the CPNP portal before selling. Labels must meet EU rules too.
Buying Korean products for your business?
Send your product list or ask for our brand partner catalogue. We reply within 1 business day.
Send wholesale inquiry → 5% sourcing fee · from $1,000 · every item checked in Seoul