Decoded Korea

In our earlier analysis of Korean sunscreens , we found that about 7 out of 10 carry SPF 50+. That covered UVB protection — the type that prevents sunburn. This time we looked at the other half of the equation: UVA protection, measured by the PA rating system. The result: in 2025, more than half of all Korean sunscreen products registered with the MFDS carry both SPF 50+ and PA++++. That is the highest possible rating in both categories. What PA means SPF measures protection against UVB rays — the ones that cause sunburn. PA measures protection against UVA rays — the ones that penetrate deeper into skin, cause photoaging, and contribute to skin cancer risk. The PA system was developed in Japan and adopted by Korea. It uses plus signs to indicate protection level: Rating UVA protection level PA+ Some PA++ Moderate PA+++ High PA++++ Extremely high PA++++ was introduced in 2013 as the highest grade. Not every market uses this system — the EU uses a UVA sea...