Korean Ad Text Message Rule Checker
If you send advertising text messages to people in South Korea, this checker reviews a draft against the labelling rules of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization (Article 50) before you send it: whether it starts with (광고), whether the sender name and contact come first, whether the end has a free opt-out method, and whether night-time sending has separate consent. Each item links to the legal basis. Your text stays in this browser.
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When to use it
Before sending a promotion to Korean customers
Paste the message and enter the sender name to see what to fix: the (광고) label, the position of the name and phone number, and a free opt-out such as "무료수신거부 080-…" at the end.
Start from a compliant template
Enter the sender name, phone and 080 number and press "Build a compliant template" to get a message that starts with (광고), name and contact and ends with the free opt-out line.
Check a scheduled send time
Enter the send time to see whether it falls between 9 pm and 8 am, when separate consent is required.
How to use
- Paste the whole ad message.
- Enter the sender name, send time and consent status to include those checks.
- Fix the red items first and review the orange ones yourself, then copy the corrected message.
Rules checked and their basis (Korea Law Information Center, checked October 24, 2026)
- (광고) label and sender details: Non-voice ads such as text messages must show (광고), the sender name and a phone number or address at the start (Network Act Art. 50(4), Enforcement Decree Art. 61(3) and Annex 6).
- No altered labels: Inserting spaces, symbols or characters into the label to dodge opt-out filters is prohibited (Annex 6, common rule 1).
- Free opt-out: The end of the message must give a way to opt out or withdraw consent and state that it costs the recipient nothing (Art. 50(4) and (6), Decree Art. 62 and Annex 6).
- Night-time: Ads sent between 9 pm and 8 am need separate prior consent (Art. 50(3)); email is exempt (Decree Art. 61(2)).
- Consent and two-year check: Ads generally need explicit prior consent, with an exception for the same kind of product sent to customers within 6 months after a transaction ends (Art. 50(1), Decree Art. 61(1)). Consent must be reconfirmed every 2 years (Art. 50(8), Decree Art. 62-3).
Frequently asked questions
Does (광고) have to be at the very start?
Yes. For text messages, (광고) must appear where the advertising information begins. The checker marks it to fix if the message does not start with (광고).
Can I write [광고] or (광 고)?
Annex 6 prohibits inserting spaces, symbols or characters or manipulating how the label is shown. Write (광고) exactly.
Where does the opt-out go?
At the end of the message, with an easy method such as a free 080 number and a note that opting out is free (e.g. 무료수신거부).
If every item is OK, is the message legal?
Not necessarily. The tool checks only the wording and layout. It does not judge whether a message is advertising, your actual consent records, or sector-specific rules.
Is my message uploaded?
No. The check runs on this page and the message is not sent anywhere.
Last checked: October 24, 2026 · Dagochim team