(image: Pixabay)
SEOUL, Dec. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea will open the door for locals to try on unifocal glasses virtually and purchase them online.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance said Tuesday it drew a consensus on the online sales of unifocal glasses after having discussions with related parties and ministries through a coordination body.
Under the current Medical Technicians Act, online sales of glasses are prohibited.
Rounz, a specialist in sales of sunglasses and glasses, applied for a regulatory sandbox in 2019 to launch online glasses sales using virtual wearing technology.
A regulatory sandbox is a concept that allows small-scale, live testing of innovations by private firms in a controlled environment under the regulator’s supervision.
The government, however, had put off the review due to concerns about eye health.
Thereafter, the government set up a coordination body composed of various interested parties including the Korean Optometric Association, Rounz, and the Consumer Union of Korea and related ministries.
Thus far, the coordination body has conducted eight rounds of discussions.
A consensus was finally reached in which the Ministry of Health and Welfare will develop guidelines on technological and institutional requirements and standards for online glasses sales, and the related parties and professionals will conduct joint studies.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
