At Incheon Port, a batch of smart air purifiers with brand-new KC marks is clearing customs quickly, while a container of “compliant” products from last year is being detained for inspection — the pace of KC certification rule updates is faster than many exporters imagine. If you are still confused by rumors such as “mandatory USB-C certification” and “energy efficiency grade 5 upgrade”, focus on official announcements from KATS (Korea Agency for Technology and Standards) and RRA (Radio Research Agency). What truly affects compliance are these 4 confirmed updates and a set of actionable response logic.
01 Framework Deepening: From “Access Permission” to “Full-Lifecycle Supervision”
Korea’s KC Mark Certification, as a mandatory safety certification system under Korea’s “Electrical Appliances and Living Products Safety Management Act”, is undergoing a profound shift in core logic. If you still regard it as a one-time customs clearance document, you may need to update your understanding.
In 2025, KATS continues to refine the regulatory framework. The most notable change is that regulatory focus is extending from pre-market access compliance to full-lifecycle management of products after they are launched.
This means obtaining a certificate is just the beginning. Korean market regulators have increased ongoing supervision of certified products, including unannounced market sampling inspections, rapid response mechanisms for consumer complaints, and regular audits of certification bodies’ work.
02 Regulatory Dynamics: 2025 Standard Revisions and Strengthened Market Supervision
The implementing rules of the core regulation for current KC certification — the “Electrical Appliances and Living Products Safety Management Act” — entered a new round of consultation in 2025. This consultation is not a disruptive reform but aims to clarify technical requirements and streamline regulatory processes.
Contrary to many inaccurate online rumors, KATS’ routine work in 2025 involved annual updates and errata for safety standards of 34 specific electrical product categories. These technical adjustments often directly affect testing requirements.
More notably, KATS officially released the “2025 Product Safety Survey Plan”. This plan clearly identifies cross-border online shopping channels as the focus of market supervision.
This means products sold directly to Korean consumers through cross-border e-commerce platforms, even with small batches and diverse categories, will face stricter market sampling. The plan emphasizes verifying the authenticity of products claiming to have KC certification and cracking down on counterfeiting or misuse of certification marks.
03 Expansion of Certification Requirements: New Categories and Dimensions
The scope of mandatory certification is expanding cautiously but continuously. Between 2025-2026, a batch of emerging smart IoT devices has been explicitly included or is being evaluated for inclusion in mandatory safety certification. This reflects Korea’s market concerns about the safety of new-format products integrating complex electronic, sensing, and communication functions.
For connected devices, an additional cybersecurity compliance declaration may be required during application. Although detailed mandatory cybersecurity testing standards are still being improved, this requirement already indicates a trend of KC certification extending from physical safety to data and functional safety.
Another notable trend is that in some product areas, especially those related to environmental policies, certification processes are beginning to focus on products’ environmental impact. There are signs that in the future, when applying for KC certification for specific products, enterprises may be encouraged or required to provide carbon footprint assessment reports.
04 Compliance for Wireless Devices: New Risk-Graded Path
For products with wireless functions, Korea’s certification system provides a clearer path. Such products must meet the “trinity” requirements: KC Safety Certification, KC Electromagnetic Compatibility Certification, and radio frequency certification managed by the Korea Radio Research Agency (RRA).
Notably, since 2025, RRA has introduced the concept of “risk-graded management” for radio frequency certification. Devices are classified into different risk levels based on factors such as device type, radio frequency power, and operating frequency band.
For devices classified as low-risk, a simplified “self-conformity verification” process has been introduced. Manufacturers can complete testing in RRA-designated testing laboratories, then self-declare compliance and affix the mark — significantly shortening time-to-market.
05 Practical Recommendations: Building Dynamic Compliance Capabilities
Facing evolving KC certification requirements, export enterprises need to build systematic compliance management capabilities, not just respond to one-time certification applications.
Establishing an intelligence monitoring mechanism is crucial. It is recommended to assign dedicated personnel or entrust professional service providers to regularly monitor KATS’ official announcements. Focus on the “Laws/Standards Information” and “Announcements” sections to obtain first-hand information.
Deepen cooperation with certification agents. Your Korean certification agent should not only be an intermediary for document submission but also your compliance consultant. Choose partners who can provide in-depth services such as regulatory interpretation, pre-factory inspection preparation, and key component list management.
Implement strict internal change control. Any product design changes after obtaining KC certification must trigger an internal change control process to assess impacts on the validity of the KC certificate. When replacing key component suppliers, always verify whether the new supplier’s components have valid KC or CB certificates.
06 Long-Term Trend: Binding KC Certification with Market Trust
From a broader perspective, KC certification is deeply binding with Korean consumers’ market trust. On major e-commerce platforms such as Coupang and Naver Smart Store, a complete and authentic KC mark and certification number have become important factors affecting product search rankings and consumer purchasing decisions.
Through data sharing and cooperation, Korean market regulators can quickly trace problematic products and take action against relevant certification bodies and manufacturers. This means any compliance flaws may lead to long-term impacts far exceeding the loss of a single product.
Korea’s market uses continuously improved rules to select true long-term partners. For Chinese enterprises, understanding and adapting to the shift of KC certification from a “static threshold” to a “dynamic process” is the cornerstone of establishing such partnerships.
BLUEASIA Technology: +86 13534225140 provides professional certification consulting services.
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