South Korea’s certification system has undergone major adjustments in recent years. The following critical updates directly affect customs clearance and market sales of imported products. This article focuses on new policies without repeating basic rules.
In 2026, South Korea significantly intensified random inspections on goods sold on cross-border platforms including Coupang and Gmarket. Inspectors mainly check three items: valid KC certification, standard marking, and consistency between actual products and certified samples. Non-compliant products will be removed from shelves directly.
Customs control has also been tightened. All commercial goods, regardless of value and delivery method, must hold valid KC certification for customs clearance. Small quantities of personal-use goods still enjoy simplified clearance, but this policy is gradually restricted. The traditional method of avoiding certification via small parcel shipping is no longer feasible.
2. Full Strict Enforcement of Cybersecurity Requirements for Networked Smart Products
Korea’s IoT cybersecurity regulations officially took effect in 2025 and entered a full enforcement phase with increased random inspections in 2026. Networked smart products such as IP cameras, smart sockets and smart lighting require additional cybersecurity assessment besides standard safety and EMC tests. Assessment contents include data encryption, anti-attack capability and vulnerability management, extending the certification cycle by 1 ~ 2 weeks.
This rule only applies to devices connected to external networks. Products with only local wireless communication (no internet access) are exempted.
3. In-depth Implementation of Wireless Device Classification
Launched in 2025, RRA’s wireless device classification policy was fully implemented across the industry in 2026:
·Class 1 Low-risk devices: Bluetooth headsets, wireless keyboards, etc. Simplified procedures and lower costs, no factory inspection.
·Class 2 High-risk devices: 5G routers, high-power RF devices, etc. Full RF and EMC tests are mandatory.
No factory inspection is required for wireless sections. Cellular terminals such as mobile phones follow separate strict regulations. The mandatory DFS function for 5GHz Wi-Fi devices remains unchanged to prevent radar interference.
4. Five Categories of Home Appliances Switched from Safety Certification to Safety Confirmation
Starting from April 1, 2026, five product categories including vacuum cleaners, washing machines, dryers, microwave ovens and bathroom electrical appliances are switched from the safety certification scheme to safety confirmation. Mandatory factory inspection and annual surveillance audits are cancelled, greatly cutting certification costs and lead time for relevant manufacturers.
Clarification on KC Safety Certificate Validity
Common misunderstandings about validity periods are corrected below:
·Safety Certification (High-risk products): Applied to large home appliances and high-capacity lithium batteries. No fixed expiry date; certificates are maintained via annual factory audits and will be revoked if audits fail.
·Safety Confirmation (Medium & low-risk products): No factory inspection required. Certificates are valid for 5 years and need renewal before expiration.
·Supplier Self-Declaration (Lowest-risk products): No official certificates issued. Enterprises keep test reports and self-declaration documents, which remain valid long-term.
5. Revision of Safety Standards for 34 Types of Electrical Appliances by KATS
From 2025 to 2026, KATS revised the safety standards for 34 categories of electrical appliances. The revisions mainly involve wording optimization and terminology unification, with no changes to test items or limit values, so certification results will not be affected.
6. Mature Application of CB Report Conversion
CB certificates and reports with Korean national differences can be converted to KC Safety certification, eliminating repeated testing, shortening lead time and reducing costs. Note that standard CB reports without Korean differences are not recognized by KATS. Confirm coverage of Korean national differences with laboratories when applying for CB certification.
In summary, the six core updates of 2026 Korea KC certification are: stricter cross-border e-commerce supervision, full enforcement of cybersecurity rules for networked devices, in-depth implementation of wireless classification, five home appliance categories exempted from factory inspection, revision of 34 safety standards, and mature CB conversion channels. While the overall market access threshold is raised, the policy brings tangible benefits to manufacturers of the five specified home appliances.
For South Korea KC Certification services, please contact Blueasia: 13534225140
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