"Korean botox" refers to botulinum toxin type A products developed and manufactured by South Korean pharmaceutical companies. Strictly speaking, Botox® is AbbVie/Allergan's brand of onabotulinumtoxinA. Korean manufacturers sell their own toxins under separate names, with their own formulations, potency assays and labels. For practitioners and clinic buyers, the useful questions are which company makes which brand, how the products differ in formulation and vial size, and where each one is authorised.
Quick Answer: The Main Korean Botulinum Toxin Brands
The Korean toxins you will see most often in clinics and supplier catalogs are Botulax (Hugel), Nabota (Daewoong Pharmaceutical), Meditoxin/Neuronox, Coretox and Innotox (all Medytox), and Liztox (Huons BioPharma). Re N Tox, Hutox and several other names also appear in export catalogs.
Two Korean-made toxins are approved by the US FDA for glabellar lines. Hugel's toxin is sold in the US as Letybo, and Daewoong's toxin is sold there as Jeuveau. No single brand is "the best." Selection depends on formulation, vial size, the treatment protocol and whether the product is authorised in your market.
Korean Toxin Brands at a Glance
| Brand (Korea) | Manufacturer | Form | International names / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botulax | Hugel | Lyophilized powder | Letybo (letibotulinumtoxinA): FDA-approved 2024. Also authorised in Europe through a decentralised procedure in 2022. |
| Nabota | Daewoong Pharmaceutical | Lyophilized powder | Jeuveau in the US (prabotulinumtoxinA, FDA-approved 2019) and Nuceiva in the EU. |
| Meditoxin | Medytox | Lyophilized powder | Exported as Neuronox. Korea's first domestically developed toxin. |
| Coretox | Medytox | Lyophilized powder | Marketed as a formulation with complexing proteins removed. |
| Innotox | Medytox | Ready-to-use liquid | No reconstitution step. |
| Liztox | Huons BioPharma | Lyophilized powder | Expanding into export markets, including China. |
| Re N Tox, Hutox, others | Check the carton | Varies | Confirm the manufacturer and license holder for each lot. |
Authorisation status changes by country and over time. Before you order, check the national regulator's register for the specific product name and strength.
Brand-by-Brand Overview
Botulax (Hugel) / Letybo
Botulax is one of the most widely used toxins in the Korean market. Internationally, Hugel's letibotulinumtoxinA is sold as Letybo. It is approved by the FDA for the temporary improvement of moderate to severe glabellar lines and is authorised in multiple European countries. Botulax is commonly supplied in several vial strengths; Celmade's listings include 100U, 200U and 300U. That range makes it practical for clinics that treat both small facial areas and larger muscles.
Nabota (Daewoong) / Jeuveau / Nuceiva
Nabota is Daewoong Pharmaceutical's prabotulinumtoxinA. The same toxin is manufactured in Korea for the US market, where Evolus sells it as Jeuveau. In the EU it is authorised as Nuceiva. Because of its US and EU approvals, Nabota is often the first Korean brand international buyers ask about. Vial strengths from 50U to 200U are available, which helps clinics match the vial to their typical treatment volume.
Meditoxin / Neuronox (Medytox)
Meditoxin was the first botulinum toxin developed in Korea, and Medytox exports it under the Neuronox name. It has a long history of use in Korean practice. Some Meditoxin products have faced regulatory action and litigation in Korea. Buyers should check the current authorisation of the exact product and strength they are ordering instead of relying on the brand name alone.
Coretox (Medytox)
Coretox is Medytox's toxin marketed as having complexing (non-toxin) proteins removed. Practitioners concerned about immunogenicity in patients with long treatment histories often ask about it. Reduced complexing protein is a formulation feature, not a guarantee against secondary non-response. Dosing frequency and cumulative dose remain part of the clinical judgement.
Innotox (Medytox)
Innotox is a ready-to-use liquid botulinum toxin, so it needs no reconstitution with saline. That removes a dilution step and the variability it can introduce, which is its main practical difference from lyophilized brands. Liquid toxin can also be misused: Innotox has been promoted to consumers for self-injection on social media. It is a prescription medicine for administration by licensed practitioners only.
Liztox (Huons BioPharma)
Liztox is Huons BioPharma's botulinum toxin type A. It is widely used in Korean dermatology clinics and positioned on purity and value. Huons has been expanding Liztox into export markets, including China. As with other newer brands, check whether it is registered in your country before ordering.
Re N Tox, Hutox and Other Names in Supplier Catalogs
Export catalogs also list names such as Re N Tox, Hutox, Metox and Wondertox. Manufacturer attributions for these products differ between websites. Do not rely on a catalog description. Check the manufacturer, license holder, lot number and expiry date printed on the carton, and match them against regulatory records.
Which Korean Botox Brands Are FDA-Approved?
Two Korean-manufactured botulinum toxins currently hold FDA approval, both for moderate to severe glabellar lines in adults:
- Jeuveau (prabotulinumtoxinA-xvfs), manufactured by Daewoong and sold in Korea as Nabota. Approved in 2019.
- Letybo (letibotulinumtoxinA-wlbg), manufactured by Hugel and related to Botulax. Approved in 2024.
FDA approval applies to the US-labelled product, not automatically to the Korean-market vial. Innotox, Coretox, Liztox and the other brands above are not FDA-approved, although many are authorised in Korea and other markets. Practitioners outside the US should check their own regulator, such as the MHRA, an EU national agency or a local health ministry.
How to Choose Between Korean Toxin Brands
Most product choice comes down to a few practical variables:
- Formulation: Lyophilized toxins (Botulax, Nabota, Coretox, Liztox) let you set your own dilution. Liquid Innotox removes the reconstitution step.
- Complexing proteins: Relevant if you manage patients with long treatment histories or suspected secondary non-response. Coretox is the Korean option marketed on this point.
- Vial size: Smaller vials (50U) reduce waste in low-volume practices. Larger vials (200–300U) suit masseter, trapezius or high-volume clinics.
- Units are not interchangeable: The FDA labels for both Letybo and Jeuveau state that their units cannot be compared with or converted into units of other botulinum toxin products. Comparing price per unit across brands is not a like-for-like comparison.
- Local authorisation: The right brand is one you can lawfully use in your jurisdiction.
To see the products side by side, you can compare Korean botulinum toxin brands and vial sizes in Celmade's collection for licensed medical professionals.
Sourcing, Storage and Authenticity Checks
Most safety problems with "Korean botox" come from the supply chain, not the country of origin. Counterfeit, diverted or poorly stored toxin and unqualified injectors are the recurring causes of harm. The CDC lists these as key risks in its guidance on botulinum toxin injections. When sourcing:
- Confirm unbroken cold-chain shipping. FDA labels for both Letybo and Jeuveau specify refrigerated storage at 2–8°C in the original carton, protected from light. Follow the storage instructions on the label of the product you receive.
- Inspect the carton and vial for the manufacturer name, lot number, expiry date and an intact seal.
- Keep lot records for traceability.
- Use sterile, appropriately sized syringes and needles. Celmade supplies insulin syringes and sterile needles for injection procedures.
Toxin products are supplied for administration by licensed practitioners only. They are not for consumer purchase or self-injection.
FAQ
What is the best Korean botox brand?
There isn't a single best brand. Botulax and Nabota have the broadest international regulatory track record. Innotox is the liquid option, and Coretox is chosen for its complexing-protein-removed formulation. The best choice for a clinic depends on its protocols, typical vial usage and local authorisation.
Are Korean botox brands safe?
Authorised Korean toxins have safety profiles broadly comparable to other botulinum toxin type A products when sourced legitimately, stored correctly and injected by trained practitioners. The same class side effects apply, including bruising, headache, ptosis and asymmetry. Distant spread of toxin effect is a labelled warning for every product.
Which Korean botox lasts the longest?
No Korean brand has a consistently proven duration advantage. Duration depends far more on dose, the muscle treated and the patient than on the brand. US labels and general clinical guidance typically describe glabellar effects lasting around three to four months.
Is Korean botox the same as Allergan Botox?
No. Both contain botulinum toxin type A, but they are different products with different manufacturing processes, potency assays and labels. Allergan's Botox, Ipsen/Galderma's Dysport and Merz's Xeomin are the best-known Western brands. Korean toxins are separate products and are not generics of Botox.
Why is Korean botox cheaper?
The lower price comes mainly from domestic manufacturing, intense competition among Korean manufacturers and lower distribution costs. A low price does not by itself indicate lower quality, but an unusually low price from an unverified seller is a warning sign for counterfeit or diverted product.
Can I switch patients between brands using the same units?
Not on a unit-for-unit basis. Each manufacturer uses its own potency assay, so doses must be set according to the product actually used. A patient's previous dose with one brand does not translate directly to another.
