For Korean product approval, remember one thing: KC is the unified national mark, but KATS handles safety, and RRA handles radio frequency and EMC. Two agencies, two sets of rules – tests are separate, but both appear under the same KC mark on the final certificate.

Many get confused by the old term MSIP – that was a former government ministry; it’s now MSIT. The correct name for the radio certification is KC‑RRA. Since 2017, numbering has also changed – the old MSIP‑XXX‑XXX‑XXXXXXXX format is gone; all now use R‑series KC numbers.

1. Two KC Bodies – Separate Jurisdictions

1.1 KATS Safety

KATS covers electrical safety for AC 50–1000 V mains‑powered equipment. 12V/24V DC in‑vehicle devices are not in KATS’s mandatory scope – there’s no “exemption” because they were never subject to it in the first place. Know this boundary to avoid unnecessary submissions or customs delays.

1.2 RRA Radio

RRA regulates radio‑emitting devices – RF compliance and EMC – using KN standards:

·KN 301 489 – corresponds to ETSI EN 301 489 (EMC for radio equipment)

·KN 32 – corresponds to CISPR 32 (emissions for multimedia)

·KN 35 – corresponds to CISPR 35 (immunity for multimedia)

  2. Wireless EMC Test Details

2.1 Conducted Emissions (CE)

Frequency range: 150 kHz – 30 MHz. Limits follow KN 32 or relevant product standards.

2.2 Radiated Emissions (RE)

Range: 30 MHz – 6 GHz. For RRA wireless devices, the upper limit is 18 GHz – not 40 GHz. Tests run in an anechoic chamber with both antenna polarisations – worst‑case recorded. RRA has tighter chamber noise‑floor requirements than many countries; excess noise will be rejected.

2.3 ESD (Electrostatic Discharge)

General IT equipment follows KN 61000‑4‑2. Automotive devices use ISO 10605 – contact discharge minimum 15 kV, far higher than the 4 kV for consumer gear. Using consumer‑grade standards for automotive will fail in real testing.

2.4 Radiated Susceptibility (RS)

KN 61000‑4‑3 – 80 MHz to 6 GHz. Radar pulse immunity is a whole‑vehicle WVTA item – do not include it in RRA wireless KC test lists for aftermarket devices.

2.5 EFT and Surge

EFT: KN 61000‑4‑4; Surge: KN 61000‑4‑5 – for signal‑line and power‑line transient immunity.
Automotive load‑dump is covered by KS CISPR 25 (vehicle‑level) – not by KN 61000‑4‑5. Mixing them up wastes test fees.

  3. KC RF Testing and Band Access

3.1 5 GHz Wi‑Fi and DFS

DFS radar detection for 5 GHz follows KN 301 489‑17. This differs significantly from EU EN 301 893 – not just thresholds, but also detection duration and channel‑switching logic. You cannot directly use CE‑RED DFS data for RRA submission – it will be rejected.

3.2 6 GHz Wi‑Fi 6E

South Korea only temporarily opened partial indoor low‑power 6 GHz bands in 2024. Full compliance for the entire 5925–7125 MHz band is expected after revisions in 2026. Confirm the applicable regulation version for your specific band before sending samples.

3.3 DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) – Automotive

DMB receivers are wireless receiving devices under RRA, tested under KN broadcast standards – do not send them as KATS safety items.

  4. KC for Automotive Products – How to Combine

·12V/24V DC devices with built‑in TCU: only RRA wireless KC required – KATS does not apply.

·Aftermarket car chargers with AC mains input: must do both KATS safety KC + RRA wireless KC – test reports are independent and not interchangeable.

  5. KC Report Reuse and Labelling

5.1 How Much Can You Reuse?

Not much. Overseas MRA labs can only do pre‑tests for debugging. Formal certification testing and filing must be performed in a Korean RRA‑authorised lab. FCC or CE‑RED reports can serve as reference for basic RF parameters, but antenna, spurious, and Korea‑specific band items must be retested locally – no direct data sharing.

5.2 KC Label Format

Apply a single KC mark. Below it, list two numbers side‑by‑side: K‑series safety number and R‑series wireless number. There is no separate “KC” and “MSIP” label system. The label must be durable, indelible, and legible. Electronic labels are allowed but must meet equivalent compliance requirements.

For KC certification and automotive wireless compliance, contact BlueAsia at 13534225140 (King) or king.guo@cblueasia.com.