Korean Cotton – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

Korean Cotton is a premium-grade organic cotton specifically cultivated and processed in South Korea for use as a wicking material in rebuildable atomisers (RDAs, RTAs, RDTAs) and replaceable coil heads. Prized by Australian vapers for its ultra-clean flavour, minimal break-in time, and high heat tolerance, Korean Cotton consists of long, pesticide-free fibres that are naturally bleached with hydrogen peroxide rather than chlorine. The result is a pure, taste-neutral medium that transports e-liquid efficiently from the tank or drip well to the Kanthal Wire or other coil alloys, delivering consistent vapour and faithful flavour reproduction without the chemical aftertaste common in pharmacy cotton balls.

Technical Details

Korean Cotton’s superiority lies in its fibre structure. The long-staple cotton is combed to remove short strands, leaving parallel cellulose filaments that create capillary channels 0.1–0.3 mm wide. These micro-channels draw viscous e-liquid (30–80 VG) upward at a rate of 18–22 mm/min, matching the speed at which most sub-ohm coils vaporise juice. Typical sheet thickness is 3–5 mm, density 120–150 g/m², and fibre length 28–32 mm. Popular variants include:

• Koh Gen Do – cosmetic-grade square pads, 100% organic, no pigment.
• Muji – unbleached “natural” pads, slightly cream colour, tighter weave.
• CelluCotton – rope form for cloud chasing, 12-strand twisted core.

All variants withstand dry-burn temperatures up to 250 °C before scorching, outperforming standard Egyptian cotton by roughly 40 °C.

Usage & Tips

Before installing, wash hands to avoid skin oils. Peel a 6 mm strip, twist to a point, and thread through the coil—resistance should feel like a “shoelace sliding through a eyelet,” neither tight nor loose. Trim flush with the knurled deck edge; tails should just touch the juice well, not stuffing it. Prime with 5–7 drops, pulse at 15 W to set, then vape. If you taste a Hit“>dry hit, check for “hot spots” where cotton has thinned—re-wick. Store unused cotton in a sealed bag away from sunlight; Korean humidity-proof packs keep fibres sterile for 24 months. Never use cotton that shows black specks—those are seed husk fragments that can ignite.

History & Context

Korean Cotton entered the vaping scene around 2013 when rebuildable Kayfun and dripper enthusiasts sought cosmetic-grade purity. South Korean beauty salons had long used the same organic pads for facial removal; vapers discovered the fibres left no “cotton funk,” quickly making it the gold standard before specialised vaping cottons emerged. Today it remains a staple in most kit builds Down Under, often paired with a Kick module for temperature control.