No, raw milk sales are prohibited in South Korea under the Food Sanitation Act and Livestock Sanitation Act, enforced by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and Korea Animal Health Products Association (KAHPA). Importation is banned unless processed into dairy products meeting strict pasteurization standards. Recent 2026 amendments tighten traceability requirements for dairy imports, further restricting raw milk access.
Key Regulations for Raw Milk in South Korea
- Mandatory Pasteurization: All milk intended for direct consumption must undergo heat treatment (e.g., 63°C for 30 minutes or equivalent) per MFDS Notice 2023-112. Raw milk is classified as a “high-risk food” under Article 7 of the Food Sanitation Act.
- Prohibition on Domestic Sales: Unprocessed raw milk cannot be sold commercially, including through farmers’ markets or online platforms. Violations incur fines up to ₩50 million (≈$38,000) under Livestock Sanitation Act Article 45.
- Import Restrictions: Raw milk imports are illegal unless pre-approved for industrial use (e.g., cheese production) with MFDS-certified processing facilities. The 2026 Dairy Import Safety Act requires real-time microbial testing for all dairy shipments.
Exception: Limited direct-to-consumer raw milk sales are permitted under special experimental permits (e.g., for research), but these require MFDS approval and are subject to quarterly inspections.