제조 vs 까지: reading Korean expiry dates correctly

Korean packaging shows either a manufacturing date marked 제조 or a use-by date marked 까지. The formats are easy to confuse — a date after 제조 is when it was made, not when it expires. Once opened, the PAO symbol (a jar with a number and M) is what actually applies.

The two markings

제조 (jejo) means manufactured, and the date beside it is the production date. 까지 (kkaji) means until, and marks the use-by date. Mistaking one for the other is the single most common misreading of Korean packaging, and it goes both ways.

Date formats

Korean dates usually run year, month, day — often as YYYY.MM.DD or YYYYMMDD. A date reading 2026.03.15 next to 제조 means it was made in March 2026, and tells you nothing directly about when it expires.

The PAO symbol is what matters after opening

The small open-jar symbol with 12M or 6M inside tells you how many months the product remains good once opened. The small open-jar symbol with 12M or 6M inside tells you how many months the product remains good once opened, and Korean rules require the manufacturing date to be printed alongside it. For unstable formulas — vitamin C, retinoids — this is the number to respect. It does not extend a printed use-by date, though: whichever of the two comes first is the one that applies.

Practical shelf life

Unopened and stored sensibly, most Korean cosmetics are given around three years from manufacture. Once opened, follow the PAO. And trust your senses: a changed smell, colour or texture overrides any printed date.

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✍️ Written & reviewed by the KoreaPlus Editorial team — dermatologist-informed, cosmetic-science researched & source-cited. Last reviewed: 2026-08-23.

General educational information using cosmetic structure-function wording — not medical advice. Always patch-test new actives. © KoreaPlus.