Barcode Range 867: GS1 DPR Korea (North Korea) Explained

What the 867 Barcode Prefix Actually Means

The barcode prefix 867 is officially assigned to GS1 DPR Korea, the GS1 member organisation representing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). This allocation is part of the global GS1 system that assigns unique number ranges to national member bodies. When you see a barcode beginning with 867, it indicates that the product's barcode was registered through the North Korean GS1 office.

It is important not to confuse this with South Korea, which uses the 880 prefix through GS1 Korea. The two countries have entirely separate prefixes in the system, reflecting their distinct GS1 memberships.

How the GS1 Prefix System Works

The barcode you scan, typically an EAN-13, begins with a GS1 prefix of two or three digits. GS1, the global organisation that maintains the barcode standard, assigns blocks of these prefixes to national member organisations around the world. When a company wants barcodes for its products, it joins the GS1 organisation in a particular territory and is issued a company prefix beginning with that territory's assigned digits.

So a barcode starting with 867 means the number was issued via GS1 DPR Korea. The prefix identifies the issuing member organisation, nothing more complicated than that. This system allows retailers and supply chain partners to trace the responsible company behind a product number.

The Crucial Caveat: Prefix Is Not "Country of Manufacture"

This is the misconception that trips most people up. A barcode prefix tells you where the barcode (the company's GS1 membership) was registered, not necessarily where the product was made.

• A company can register its barcodes in one place and manufacture goods elsewhere.
• Large companies often register all their products under a single prefix (commonly their home base), even when production is spread across countries.
• So an "867" barcode points to registration via GS1 DPR Korea, but it does not by itself prove where an item was physically produced.

For the genuine country of manufacture, the reliable source is always the "Made in..." statement on the product or packaging, required by trade and labelling rules in the UK and EU under the UK Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and EU Regulation 2019/1020, not the barcode.

Why You'll Rarely See an 867 Barcode

In practice, products carrying an 867 prefix are extremely uncommon on international shelves. North Korea's limited participation in global trade means very few consumer goods registered through GS1 DPR Korea circulate in Western markets. According to GOV.UK trade statistics, North Korean exports to the UK are negligible, and most products from the region are subject to international sanctions under UN Security Council resolutions. If you genuinely encounter one, it's a rarity, and as with any product, the barcode prefix alone doesn't tell you about authenticity, quality, or where it was actually manufactured.

What the Prefix Is Genuinely Useful For

• It identifies the GS1 member organisation that issued the barcode.
• It can offer a clue to the brand owner's registration origin, though not a guarantee of manufacturing location.
• It's part of how supply chains and retailers trace the responsible company behind a product number.

How to Look Up Any Barcode Prefix

• Consult the official GS1 prefix list on the GS1 global website (gs1.org), which maps every prefix range to its member organisation.
• Use a reputable barcode lookup tool built on GS1 data.
• Remember some special cases: prefixes starting with 0 are typically UPC codes from the US and Canada, while 200–299 are reserved for internal use.