Seoul City Arrests 10 Unregistered and Unlicensed Eyelash Beauty Operators... "Consumers Beware"

Safety Test Results of 21 Commercial Eyelash Adhesive Products: 19 Exceed Standards... Ministry of Environment Notified
Concerns Over Eye Redness and Itching After Eyelash Extension Procedures

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government's Civil Affairs Judicial Police Unit announced on the 11th that it has taken legal action against 10 illegal practitioners after conducting a focused investigation from March to July into unreported and unlicensed eyelash extension and perm procedure establishments.

Seoul started the investigation as reports from citizens about establishments illegally performing eyelash extensions in officetels and other locations continued to increase, driven by growing interest in eye makeup due to the constant wearing of masks amid COVID-19. To perform eyelash extension and perm procedures, a beautician license under the Public Hygiene Management Act is required, and even with a license, a business must be reported to the head of the relevant district office. If a business provides eyelash extension and perm procedures illegally without reporting, they face imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million KRW.

This investigation was conducted by having investigators directly visit establishments advertising eyelash procedures online and through social network services (SNS) to confirm illegal business activities. Since marketing for eyelash extension and perm procedure establishments is mainly done through online and social network services, the authorities analyzed user reviews and other data to investigate violations.

Seoul explained, "The 10 establishments taken into legal action were mostly operating in officetels or commercial buildings," adding, "Most operated by taking one-on-one reservations through SNS, which made the investigation challenging."

Additionally, after receiving numerous complaints about side effects such as eye redness and eyelash loss following eyelash extension procedures, Seoul conducted safety inspections on eyelash extension adhesives distributed and sold in the market, confirming that 90% exceeded safety standards.

The Seoul Institute of Health and Environment purchased 21 eyelash extension adhesive products distributed and sold online and offline and tested them according to the Safety Confirmation Target Household Chemical Products designation and safety and labeling standards. The inspection focused on two prohibited substances (benzene, methyl methacrylate) and one restricted substance (toluene) contained in the products. Benzene was not detected in any of the 21 products, but methyl methacrylate was detected in 19 of the 21 products. Toluene, a restricted substance, was detected at 4 to 10 times the standard limit (below 1000 mg/kg) in six products.

Seoul emphasized, "Among the 21 products purchased this time, five were found to be distributed and sold without labeling manufacturing date, registration number, or manufacturer information, requiring consumers to exercise careful caution." According to the Safety Confirmation Target Household Chemical Products designation and safety and labeling standards, eyelash extension adhesives must clearly display the item, product name, manufacturing date, manufacturer’s name, address, and contact information on the product surface or packaging. Accordingly, Seoul reported the inspection results and labeling violations of eyelash extension adhesives tested by the Institute of Health and Environment to the Ministry of Environment, which has administrative authority over these products.

Meanwhile, Seoul urged citizens to report and notify the Seoul Metropolitan Government website if they discover illegal eyelash procedure establishments or other public hygiene-related crimes. Under the ordinance, rewards of up to 200 million KRW are provided.

Cheon Myeong-cheol, Acting Head of the Seoul Civil Affairs Judicial Police Unit, said, "Illegal beauty practices such as unreported and unlicensed eyelash extensions pose a threat to citizens’ eye health, so we will do our best to investigate illegal beauty establishments," and added, "We ask citizens to always check for a beautician license and business registration when using related establishments."