Regarding the new regulations for South Korean KC Safety Certification in 2025, I have outlined the core changes and key impacts for you. This adjustment mainly focuses on three aspects: regulatory system, product standards, and market supervision.
| New Regulation Dimension | Core Content & Changes | Key Timeline/Status |
| Regulatory System Optimization | Revision of the Enforcement Rules of the Electrical Appliances and Life Safety Management Act, aiming to clarify product classification, update safety standards, adjust testing procedures, and reform the product certification numbering system. | Public consultation launched in July 2025, expected follow-up release |
| Specific Standard Updates | Revisions cover safety standards for 23 categories of electrical appliances, involving home appliances, power tools, lighting equipment, etc.; simultaneously promoting the unification of standard and test naming. | Some standard revisions started soliciting opinions in January 2025 |
| Market Supervision Strengthening | Announcement of the 2025 Product Safety Investigation Plan, significantly increasing the types of safety investigations on overseas direct purchase products, and strengthening inter-departmental joint law enforcement to prevent non-KC certified products from entering the market. | Implementation began in 2025 |
Beyond the macro changes in the table, some details directly affecting the certification process and requirements require your special attention.
Refined Adjustments to KC Safety Certification Process and Requirements:
1.Certification Numbering System Reform:** The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) plans a comprehensive reform of the entire product certification numbering system. This aims to increase the transparency of the certification process and provide more convenient market access for international manufacturers. Please pay close attention to the official release of the new numbering rules.
2.Updated Document & Testing Requirements: With the proliferation of IoT devices, starting in 2025, some smart devices (e.g., connected smart home products) may need to additionally provide a network security compliance declaration when applying for KC certification. Simultaneously, for lithium battery products, their heavy metal content must comply with RoHS environmental standards, and labels must be annotated in Korean, with clear font height requirements.
3.Factory Audit & Certificate Maintenance: For mandatory safety certification of high-risk products, although the certificate has no fixed validity period, its validity must be maintained through annual factory audits. This differs from the requirements for voluntary safety confirmation (certificate validity 5 years).
Stricter Market Supervision & Enforcement:
According to the 2025 Product Safety Investigation Plan released by KATS, market supervision has significantly intensified.
1.Focus on Cross-Border Smuggling: The plan significantly increases the types of safety investigations on overseas direct purchase products from about 450 types in 2024 to about 1,000 types. This will involve joint crackdowns with police, local governments, and online platform companies, aiming to prevent non-KC certified illegal products from entering the Korean market through overseas online platforms.
2.Severe Consequences for Non-Compliance: If a product is found without the KC mark or missing required local agent information, it may face fines of up to 100 million KRW (approx. 540,000 RMB) and a sales ban.
We hope this overview of the new KC certification regulations helps you better plan and execute product certification. If you can share more specific product types (e.g., small household appliances, lamps, or IT equipment), BLUEASIA Tech: 13534225140 will provide professional certification consulting services!
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