Official Aesthetician Certificate to Be Issued
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
The government has decided to issue an official certificate of aesthetician to those specialized in skincare from the latter half of next year.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced Friday that the license will be issued next year to those who pass a national exam covering skincare treatment. Those currently operating this type of business without a license will have to obtain the qualification. Those practicing without will be considered illegal and will be charged.
``Those with a hairdressing certificate have been allowed to treat both hair and skin,’’ the ministry said. ``With surging interest in beauty care services especially about facial skin, we decided to introduce a skincare-specialized license to meet the demand.’’
Under the new law, qualified aestheticians will be able to monitor and treat customers’ facial and bodily skin. They can also perform non-surgical hair removal treatment.
``We welcome the government’s decision,’’ Cho Soo-kyung, president of the Korea Central Estheticians’ Association, told The Korea Times. ``Since 2002, we have called on the government to introduce the license. Due to strong backlash from interest groups in the hairdresser industry, we could enact the bill in April this year.’’
According to the association, more than 350,000 aestheticians work in the skincare industry nationwide. But more than 80 percent of those who perform beauty treatment are unqualified.
The first official test will be held during the second half of next year.
``The test will composed of two parts _ theoretical and practical,’’ said Kim Mi-sun, an official at the Human Resources Development Service. ``The official schedule for the test will be released on Jan. 10 next year. The number of tests will be decided after taking into account the number of applicants.’’