Forbidden Use of "Skin Tone” Color

From now on, it is likely that use of ‘Skin tone’ color name will disappear from crayons and watercolors.

On August 1st, the State Human Right Board (Director, Kim Chang-kuk) has advice against use of ‘Skin tone’ color name for certain crayons and watercolors. Their advice is based on Article 11 of the Constitution on Equal Rights. The Board has asked the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) to step in and make provision.

“The color’s name may lead to infringement of equal rights of other skin colored ethnic groups and also increase racism.” explained the Board.

In 1967, when the KATS set the Korean industrial standard or ㉿ they literally copied the names of Japanese industrial standard colors which lead to name of ‘Skin tone’ color and Korean business have followed it since.

“If the KATS revises the KS, other businesses will follow”, announced the Stationary Association, an organization of crayon manufacture. “We will discuss internally before we announce our position,” said Kim Dong-chul, Director of KATS.

Coffiedickson (age, 34), a Ghana national, Pastor Kim Hae-sung of Sungnam ‘Foreign Laborers’ House’ and four other foreign nationals have made petitions to State Human Right Board against KATS and three other crayon manufactures. Their petition states that labeling of specific color, as ‘Skin tone’ color is a racial prejudice.

buddy@donga.com