If you tried to order from Olive Young's Korean website recently and got redirected to us.oliveyoung.com, you're not imagining things. Starting May 29, 2026, Olive Young officially blocked US shoppers from ordering directly from their Korean global site.

For years, US K-beauty fans saved 30–50% by ordering straight from Korea. That door just got a lot harder to open — but it's not completely closed.

What Changed on May 29, 2026

Olive Young launched us.oliveyoung.com — a US-only storefront — and simultaneously blocked US IP addresses from checking out on their Korean global site. Even if you navigate directly to the Korean site, any US shipping address triggers a redirect to the US version.

Why Olive Young Blocked US Shoppers

Olive Young opened its first US brick-and-mortar store in Pasadena, California and launched a dedicated US e-commerce platform. As a legal US market entrant, they're now subject to US distribution regulations — including FDA rules for cosmetics and OTC products like sunscreens.

3 Ways to Still Get Korean Products Shipped to the US

1. Use a Korean Package Forwarding Service

A forwarding service gives you a real Korean warehouse address. You shop on any Korean site — Olive Young Korea, Coupang, Musinsa, Naver Shopping — ship to the Korean address, and the service forwards it to your US door. This is the most flexible option and works with any Korean store, not just Olive Young.

2. Shop Olive Young Korea via a Proxy Buyer

A proxy buyer is someone in Korea who purchases on your behalf and ships internationally. Works well for one-off purchases but gets expensive for regular shoppers since each order ships separately.

3. Shop Alternative Korean Beauty Retailers

Olive Young isn't the only place to get Korean skincare. Many K-beauty brands sell directly on their own Korean websites, and stores like Coupang, 11st, and StyleKorean carry the same products — often at lower prices. A forwarding service lets you consolidate orders from multiple stores into one shipment.

The Sunscreen Issue: What You Need to Know

Even before the May 29 redirect, US shoppers were reporting Korean sunscreens getting held at customs. This is a separate issue from the website block.

In the US, sunscreens are classified as OTC (over-the-counter) drugs, not cosmetics. The FDA only approves 16 active sunscreen ingredients — meanwhile, Korean sunscreens commonly use Tinosorb M, Tinosorb S, and Uvinul A Plus, none of which have FDA approval yet.

FAQ

Can I still order from Olive Young Korea if I use a VPN?

A VPN changes your apparent IP address, but Olive Young checks the shipping address at checkout. A US delivery address still triggers the redirect regardless of your IP.

Is it legal to import Korean skincare to the US?

Personal-use imports are generally permitted. The FDA focuses on commercial distribution. Ordering a few items for personal use falls under the personal exemption and is routinely cleared at customs.

Will my Korean sunscreen get seized at customs?

Small personal quantities (1–3 items) typically clear without issue. Larger quantities or packages that look commercial carry more risk.

What Korean stores still ship internationally?

Some Korean brands ship directly to the US via their own websites. For stores that are Korea-domestic only (Coupang, Musinsa, most Olive Young categories), a forwarding service is the most reliable route.