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title: Korean print conventions (regulations, formats, market) applies_to: [print, korean, regulations, kr-market] version: 1.0.0 last_updated: 2026-05 stability: stable

Korean print conventions

Korean print has specific format standards, regulatory requirements, and market conventions that differ from Western/international defaults. This file documents what's specific to Korea.

Read print-fundamentals.md first.

Standard sizes

Korea uses ISO A/B series + a few local conventions:

Name Size (mm) Korean term Use
명함 90 × 50 명함 Business card (KR-specific; bigger than international 85×55)
A4 210 × 297 A4 Letter, brochure, document
A5 148 × 210 A5 Half-letter, leaflet
A6 105 × 148 A6 Postcard
A3 297 × 420 A3 Small poster
A2 420 × 594 A2 Medium poster
A1 594 × 841 A1 Large poster
A0 841 × 1189 A0 Hero poster
B5 176 × 250 B5 Booklet (slightly smaller than A4)
B4 250 × 353 B4 Magazine spread
국전지 636 × 939 국전지 KR poster size, larger
4x6 102 × 152 4x6 / 인화지 Photo print

Korean business card 명함 is 90×50mm — slightly larger than international 85×55. Western cards stick out of Korean wallets. Use Korean size for Korean primary audiences.

File preparation conventions

Color

  • CMYK mandatory for offset / large run print.
  • Spot color (Pantone) for brand-critical pieces.
  • Korean ICC profile: most KR printers use Japan Color 2001 Coated or printer-specific profile.

Resolution

  • 300 DPI at print size for photos / raster — same as international.
  • 600 DPI for line art / dense text — for sharpest character rendering of small Hangul.

Hangul characters are dense; small Hangul at low DPI looks fuzzy faster than Latin.

File format

  • PDF/X-1a is standard.
  • Some KR printers also accept AI / INDD native files.
  • Avoid: PSD without rasterization plan, Word documents (will reformat on printer's machine).

Bleed

  • 3mm minimum (Korean standard, slightly less than US ⅛" / 3.175mm).
  • Crop marks + bleed marks in PDF export.

Korean typography for print

Font Use License
Pretendard Default modern UI/print Open-source (free commercial)
본명조 (BonMyeongjo) Premium serif Open-source
나눔스퀘어 (NanumSquare) Display, signage Open-source
나눔명조 (NanumMyeongjo) Body, classic Open-source
Spoqa Han Sans Neo Sans-serif body Open-source
Apple SD Gothic Neo Premium / Apple-aligned Apple license (limit)
SM 신신명조 / SM 견출명조 Premium typography Paid (SM 폰트)
윤서체 시리즈 Premium typography Paid (윤디자인)

Default modern: Pretendard for sans, 본명조 / NanumMyeongjo for serif.

Sizing for print

Hangul reads slightly larger than Latin at the same point size. Adjustments:

Use Latin Korean
Body in book 11pt 10-10.5pt
Brochure body 9-10pt 8.5-9.5pt
Caption 7-8pt 7pt
Business card text 7-9pt 7-8.5pt

Don't go below 6pt for Korean. Hangul strokes get muddy.

Line height (행간)

Korean needs more leading than Latin:

Use Latin (px) Korean (px)
Body 11pt 1.4-1.5 line height 1.6-1.8
Headline 1.2 1.3-1.4

Reason: Hangul has more visual density per line; tight leading feels cramped.

Mixed Korean + English

Body text in mixed languages: - Pretendard handles both at the same size. - Adobe Source Han Sans (a.k.a. Noto Sans CJK) handles both. - Mixing two fonts (Korean font + Latin font) requires careful x-height matching.

For headlines: pick a single CJK font that has both Korean and Latin glyphs.

Word break / line break

Korean breaks differently from Latin: - Korean breaks at any character boundary (not word). - Don't break in middle of common compound words (회사명, 제품명). - Hyphens (-) in Korean text feel awkward; use ellipsis or restart line. - For long English words mixed with Korean: ensure the English word doesn't break Korean visual rhythm.

Regulatory requirements

Food packaging (식품 포장)

KFDA regulations specify: - Ingredients (원재료명) in descending weight order. - Allergens (알레르기 유발 물질) bolded or boxed; list of regulated allergens. - Net contents (내용량) prominent — minimum size regulated. - Best-before (유통기한) format: YYYY-MM-DD or YYYY.MM.DD. - Country of origin (원산지). - Manufacturer (제조원) and distributor (판매원). - Storage (보관 방법). - Nutrition facts (영양 성분) in regulated table format for many categories. - Customer service (소비자 상담실) phone.

Minimum font sizes are regulated. Submit packaging design to KFDA-registered consultant or printer with KR regulatory expertise.

Cosmetics (화장품)

  • All ingredients listed (INCI names + Korean).
  • Manufacturer (제조판매업자) registered name.
  • Use-by / 사용기한 OR Period after opening / 개봉 후 사용기간 (PAO icon).
  • Manufacturer license number (화장품 제조업 신고).
  • Net contents.
  • Marketing claims require pre-approval if making functional claims.

Supplements / health-functional foods (건강기능식품)

  • 건강기능식품 mark (KFDA-issued icon).
  • All claims pre-approved.
  • Strict label format.

Drug labeling (의약품)

  • KFDA-controlled.
  • All copy approved before printing.
  • Specific font sizes, colors, formats.

Recycling marks (분리배출 표시)

Required on most packaging. The mark is a regulated icon system:

Material Mark
Paper 종이
Plastic 플라스틱 + 분류 (PE, PP, PET, PS, PVC, OTHER)
Vinyl 비닐
Can 캔 (철 / 알미늄)
Glass 유리
Mixed material 다중

Each mark has specific dimensions (minimum 8mm × 8mm typical) + Korean text.

Must be on the package itself (not just on a sticker). Government can fine for missing or incorrect marks.

Advertising regulations

For 전단지 / marketing flyers: - Health/medical claims: only approved language. - Financial product advertising: must include risk warnings (정보통신망법 / 자본시장법). - Children's products: stricter rules on imagery + claims. - Food: no false health claims.

Spam law (정보통신망법)

Marketing print materials don't fall under spam law (which is about emails/SMS), but if your print piece directs to digital marketing (QR → marketing list), the digital marketing must comply. See knowledge/patterns/email-design.md.

Korean print market

  • 충무로 — historic specialty print district. Premium quality, traditional finishes (letterpress, foil), proofing services.
  • 을지로 — high-volume offset, specialty paper, mid-tier quality.
  • 인천 (Incheon) — large-scale offset runs, packaging, corrugated.
  • 파주 (Paju) — book printing concentration.

For small runs / online: Snaps, Bizhows, 컴인쇄, Vistaprint Korea — convenient, mid-quality, fast turnaround.

For brand-critical: traditional 충무로 / 을지로 printer with sample proof.

Typical lead times

Job Lead time
Online business cards (Snaps, Bizhows) 2-5 days
Premium business cards (충무로) 5-10 days
Standard A5 flyers (online) 3-7 days
Premium brochures 7-14 days
Folding cartons (low volume) 14-21 days
Folding cartons (high volume) 30-45 days
Subway / OOH posters 7-14 days from approval
Trade show backdrop 5-10 days

Add 5-10 days for revisions / proof rounds.

Minimum order quantities

Job Typical MOQ
Business cards 100-200
Letterhead / envelopes 500-1000
A5 flyers 500-1000
Brochures 500-1000
Folding cartons 1000-3000
Custom shipping boxes 1000+

Below MOQ: digital print (per-unit price 2-5× higher) or pay setup penalty for offset.

Cost benchmarks (rough, 2024-2025 KRW)

Highly variable; benchmarks for budgeting:

Job Typical cost
100 business cards (4-color, 300gsm) 15,000-40,000 KRW
100 premium cards (foil + soft-touch) 80,000-200,000 KRW
1000 A5 flyers (4-color) 80,000-150,000 KRW
1000 tri-fold A4 brochures 200,000-400,000 KRW
1000 folding cartons (cosmetics-tier) 500,000-1,500,000 KRW
Subway B3 poster (3-day post) 200,000-400,000 KRW per panel

Get 2-3 quotes; pricing varies a lot.

Korean print quality expectations

  • Color accuracy: high. Korean clients notice color shifts.
  • Trim accuracy: high. ±0.5mm tolerance is preferred (not just ±1mm).
  • Paper quality: clients can spot cheap paper.
  • Finish quality: foil shouldn't smudge; lamination shouldn't bubble.
  • On-time delivery: critical. Late delivery = damaged relationship.

For premium brand work: pay for premium printer. Cost difference is real but reputational risk of cheap-looking print is bigger.

Common Korean print mistakes (foreigners / non-KR-experienced designers)

  • Wrong business card size (using 85×55 instead of 90×50).
  • Hangul too small (using Latin point sizes for Korean).
  • Tight leading on Korean text (uses Latin leading; reads cramped).
  • Wrong recycling marks (or missing them).
  • English-first regulatory text (Korean must be primary on KR-distributed packaging).
  • Wrong honorific level in formal letters (using 해요체 where 합쇼체 expected).
  • Wrong date format (using MM/DD/YYYY instead of YYYY.MM.DD or YYYY-MM-DD).

Don't

  • Don't use international business card size for Korean primary audiences. Wallets have specific 명함 pockets sized 90×50.
  • Don't apply Latin typography rules to Korean. Leading, sizing, line breaks differ.
  • Don't skip recycling marks. Government enforces.
  • Don't translate marketing copy at the last minute. Korean expansion breaks layout.
  • Don't ignore ICC profile differences. Korean coated press differs from US/EU presses.
  • Don't go to a no-name print shop for brand-critical work. Vet the printer.
  • Don't print regulatory content in 4-point type to fit. KFDA / KATS will reject.

Cross-reference