# Korean convenience store food labels

> A Korean convenience store food label has four parts worth learning: allergens, use-by date and storage, the microwave mark, and the nutrition basis.

Korea Convenience Food Guide reads every part as a statement about one product and never reads a missing line as “free of” anything.

Written by the Hanipgyeol Food Study Group on October 22, 2026. Canonical address: https://kcstorefood.org/topics/food-labels.

## Which parts of a convenience store food label matter most?

The allergen box, the use-by date with its storage method, the microwave mark and the nutrition basis amount.

**Four label parts and their MFDS source**

| Label part | Rule from the source | Source date |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Allergen box | Allergens named whatever the amount; separate box with distinct background | 2022-09-01 |
| Use-by date | Safe period if the printed storage method is followed | 2023-03-31 |
| Microwave mark | Check “for microwave” labelling; material alone is not enough | 2020-12-08 |
| Nutrition basis | Values recorded against a basis amount and unit | Data portal, modified 2026 |

## What does a missing line on a convenience store food label mean?

Only that the line is missing. It is never read as “free of”, safe, vegetarian or halal.

The Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods prohibits misleading and exaggerated labelling and advertising, and Korea Convenience Food Guide holds its own pages to the same line.

## Which convenience food label articles are still in preparation?

1 articles are kept out of search until their sources are checked; they are listed here without links.

**Articles in preparation and what is left to check**

| Article | Left to check |
| --- | --- |
| Korean convenience food vegetarian labels | Open certification-scheme sources |

## What else do people ask about convenience store food labels?

### Which allergens must be labelled in Korea?

The 2022 MFDS guide lists 19 groups, from eggs and milk to sulphites; see the allergen article for the full list and its date.

### Is the use-by date the same as the old sell-by date?

No. Use-by labelling replaced sell-by labelling from 1 January 2023.

### Does a PP container mean microwave-safe?

Not by itself. MFDS says to check the product’s microwave-use mark.

### Is a blank nutrition value zero?

No. It means not provided.

### Does this site certify vegan or halal food?

No. It issues no such verdict.

## Where does this information come from?

- [Let us learn about allergen labelling (revised)](https://www.foodsafetykorea.go.kr/portal/board/boardDetail.do?bbs_no=bbs001&menu_grp=MENU_NEW01&menu_no=3120&ntctxt_no=1091412) - Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Food Safety Korea)
- [Food statistics story: use-by dates](https://www.foodsafetykorea.go.kr/portal/board/boardDetail.do?bbs_no=bbs091601&menu_no=3862&ntctxt_no=1093859) - Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Food Safety Korea)
- [Microwave-only food containers: know them and use them right](https://www.foodsafetykorea.go.kr/portal/board/boardDetail.do?bbs_no=bbs231&menu_grp=MENU_NEW01&menu_no=2694&ntctxt_no=1082132) - Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Food Safety Korea)
- [Food nutrient DB information (Open API)](https://www.data.go.kr/data/15127578/openapi.do) - Ministry of Food and Drug Safety
- [Act on Labeling and Advertising of Foods and its Enforcement Decree (excerpt)](https://www.foodsafetykorea.go.kr/portal/board/boardDetail.do?bbs_no=bbs281&menu_grp=MENU_NEW04&menu_no=4805) - Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (Food Safety Korea)