Who this decision is for
- A supplement, cosmetics or medical-adjacent brand whose Korean product claims may fall under specific advertising rules.
- A fintech or investment-related company preparing Korean pages that describe returns, risks or licensed activities.
- A marketing manager who needs to know which pieces of copy to send to legal and what to send with them.
- A general counsel at headquarters who cannot read Korean and wants a structured way to coordinate with Korean advisers.
The decision to make
The decision is which copy to route to qualified Korean counsel and how early. Marketing teams often send everything late, causing delays, or nothing, causing risk. A better approach is to flag categories of sensitive claims during drafting, group them, and submit them with context so counsel can answer quickly. Categories to look for include product efficacy claims, comparisons with competitors, endorsements and reviews, pricing and promotions, data collection notices, and statements about licensing or approvals.
Trade-offs sit between speed and caution. Counsel review takes time and costs money, so scope it to what matters instead of every headline. Yet skipping review on regulated categories can create larger problems later. Agree who owns each decision, keep the exact wording counsel approved, and prevent casual edits afterward. SWIN handles marketing execution, glossary alignment and version control, while legal interpretation stays with your Korean advisers.
Options compared
| Option | Best when | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Review all copy before launch | Your category is heavily regulated and the volume of pages is small enough to check comprehensively. | It can slow release, so provide a clear pack and schedule instead of sending unstructured files. |
| Flag and review high-risk copy only | Most content is informational and only specific claims, offers or notices touch regulated areas. | Requires a disciplined flagging rule; missed claims slip through if writers are not trained to spot them. |
| Approved claims library | You publish frequently and want counsel to pre-approve wording that writers may reuse without changes. | Any wording edit invalidates approval, and the library needs review when rules or products change. |
Risks to manage
- Unreviewed claims. Health, finance or comparison statements published without checking can create exposure. Flag categories during drafting and route them to Korean counsel before release.
- Approved wording edited later. Small changes after approval may alter the meaning. Lock approved text in a claims library and require re-approval for changes.
- Translation shifts meaning. A translated disclaimer may soften or strengthen the original. Provide counsel with the source, the Korean and a back-translation.
- Late legal involvement. Sending copy days before launch forces rushed decisions. Involve counsel when messaging is drafted and share a calendar of upcoming campaigns.
Evidence to gather first
- The English source claims and their substantiation from your own regulatory or product teams, which counsel will need to assess the Korean version.
- A list of markets and licenses relevant to the product, so advisers understand what you are authorized to do and say.
- The intended channels and formats, such as website, ads, social or packaging, since requirements can differ by medium.
- Existing approved disclaimers and privacy notices, which counsel can adapt instead of drafting from scratch.
Recommended process
- Sensitive copy scan. SWIN reads your planned Korean copy and marks statements that fall into commonly regulated categories, without judging legality.
- Handoff pack. We assemble the source text, Korean draft, back-translation, context and intended channel into a clear pack for your Korean counsel.
- Counsel review. Your qualified Korean advisers assess and revise the wording. SWIN does not interpret or override their decisions.
- Implementation. We apply counsel-approved wording exactly, update the glossary and claims library, and keep version records.
- Change control. Future edits to approved claims are flagged, so wording does not drift after launch without renewed review.
What SWIN can deliver
- A marked-up list of Korean copy items that touch commonly regulated claim types.
- A structured handoff pack for Korean counsel with source, Korean text, back-translation and context.
- A claims library recording counsel-approved wording and the date approved.
- A change-control rule for editing approved claims and disclaimers.
- A calendar showing when campaign copy should reach counsel for review.