Ingredients · Wrinkles and firmness
sh-Oligopeptide-1에스에이치-올리고펩타이드-1
What it is
A lab-made copy of human epidermal growth factor (EGF): a single-chain peptide of up to 53 amino acids, made by fermentation in E. coli bacteria from a gene written to match the human EGF gene. It is the ingredient behind Korean “EGF” creams and ampoules.
On a Korean label
Written 에스에이치-올리고펩타이드-1 (sh-Oligopeptide-1). Its older counterpart, 알에이치-올리고펩타이드-1 (rh-Oligopeptide-1), is EGF too. The front of the pack says EGF or 이지에프, often with an amount in ppm. Plain 올리고펩타이드-1, with no prefix, is a different small peptide (glycine, histidine and lysine) — not EGF.
Korean rules
- Limit: Up to 0.001% (10 ppm). The rule names it 알에이치(또는 에스에이치) 올리고펩타이드-1(상피세포성장인자) — rh- or sh-Oligopeptide-1 (epidermal growth factor) — so both forms share the cap. (화장품 안전기준 등에 관한 규정)
- In May and June 2020 Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety checked 2,557 online listings for EGF cosmetics and found 549 with improper claims. Most of them (515) said EGF regenerates cells, relieves redness or fades scars — claims that make a cosmetic look like a medicine. The products stayed on sale; sellers were told to correct their ads.
Related names on Korean labels
| Korean | English (INCI) | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| 알에이치-올리고펩타이드-1 | rh-Oligopeptide-1 | rh-Oligopeptide-1 — also EGF, under the same 0.001% limit |
Questions
What is EGF in Korean skincare?
Epidermal growth factor. On the ingredient list: 에스에이치-올리고펩타이드-1 (sh-Oligopeptide-1) or 알에이치-올리고펩타이드-1 (rh-Oligopeptide-1).
Why do Korean EGF products say 10 ppm?
10 ppm is 0.001% — the most EGF that Korean safety rules allow in a cosmetic.
Is 올리고펩타이드-1 the same as EGF?
No. Without the sh- or rh- prefix, 올리고펩타이드-1 (Oligopeptide-1) is a different synthetic peptide made of glycine, histidine and lysine.
Can a Korean EGF cream claim to regenerate skin?
No. Claims such as cell regeneration or scar fading make a cosmetic look like a medicine; in 2020 Korea’s MFDS asked sellers to correct 549 online EGF ads.
Sources
- Korea Cosmetic Association — ingredient dictionary (대한화장품협회 성분사전)
- Regulation on Cosmetic Safety Standards (화장품 안전기준 등에 관한 규정), as listed in the KCIA dictionary
- CosmeticsDesign-Asia — “South Korea tightens down on EGF cosmetic products with inappropriate claims” (7 July 2020)
Checked 27 October 2026. Rules change — the official texts above are the final word.