South Korea is one of the most developed markets in Asia. Accordingly, the certification system has undergone many advances and changes. Before 2009, there were 13 different certifications, some with overlapping content, with 140 different test marks. With the Korean Electrical Appliance & Consumer Goods safety Management Act 2009, the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy (MOTIE) standardised the certification market to KC certification.
In the KC system, there are Consumer Products, Children’s Products, Electronics, EMC, KCs (KOSHA, Safety), KEMCO (Energy Efficiency) and MFDS (Food&Drugs). Some areas define product categories, others specific technical properties. It may therefore happen that a product is required to undergo several tests.
The certification process usually consists of application with various forms, product tests (or equal calculated test report tests) and marking. KCs certification may also involve factory inspections.
The most important facts about KC certification
- English translation of the manufacturer’s extract from the commercial register
- Drawing and photos of the product to be certified
- Marking information of the product
- In-house test reports of the product to be certified
- Description of the test requirements
- List of raw materials used
- Test reports of the main raw materials (from the supplier)
- some KC forms
- Application documents: 1-2 weeks
- Depending on the area, audit of production: 1-4 months
- Product tests in Korea or review of existing test reports: 2-6 weeks
- Certificate: 1-3 weeks
- Product marking: depending on customer
- Follow-up tests and possibly also audits every two years.
- Application fees are low, but inspection fees may be added depending on the certification area.
- Please note that testing costs can be very high. Depending on the type of product, testing costs can reach mid five figures.
- Different product types (even within a standard) generate further testing costs, product groups according to other standards generate even further application costs.
What is the KC certification for?
Even after the standardisation of the KC certification in 2009, it still has a very high level of complexity due to the different areas and the different certification procedures (also within the areas). An overview of the main differences can be found in this extendable table:
Covered product types
- Household appliances (e.g. refrigerators, dishwashers)
- Audio & video equipment
- Scales
- Fire extinguishers
- Spectacle frames
- Fans
- Tents
- Motorbike helmets
- High visibility warning clothing
Process steps
- Application
- Factory inspection if necessary
- Product tests in accredited laboratories
- Certificate valid for 1 year
- KC marking
- Regular follow-up tests
Covered product types
- Brake hoses (FMVSS 106)
- Safety belt equipment (UNECE Reg. 16)
- Headlamps (UNECE Reg. 98, 112, 128)
- Rear reflectors (UNECE Reg. 3)
- Rear underrun protection (UNECE Reg. 58)
- Brake pads (UNECE Reg. 90)
- Rims (UNECE Reg. 124)
- Safety glass (UNECE Reg 43)
- Rear registration plates for heavy and long vehicles (UNECE Reg. 70)
- Retro-reflective tapes (UNECE Reg. 70)
- Warning triangles (UNECE Reg. 27)
- Heavy and slow vehicle registration plates (UNECE Reg. 69)
Process steps
- Application
- Factory inspection if necessary
- Product tests in accredited laboratories
- Certificate valid for 1 year
- KC marking
- Regular follow-up tests
Covered product types
- Toys
- Textiles for children and babies
- Chairs for children
- School utensils
- Bicycles for children
Process steps
- Application
- Factory inspection if necessary
- Product tests in accredited laboratories
- Certificate valid for 1 year
- KC marking
- Regular follow-up tests
Covered product types
High voltage and higher risk products, including:
- Electrical cables,
- Wiring harnesses,
- capacitors,
- Switches for electrical apparatus,
- filters,
- motorised electrical tools,
- fuse holders,
- switches,
- insulated transformers
- etc.
Process steps
- Application
- Factory inspection if necessary
- Product tests in accredited laboratories
- Certificate valid for 1 year
- KC marking
- Regular follow-up tests
Covered product types
High voltage and higher risk products, including:
- Electrical switches,
- electrical equipment,
- Information technology equipment,
- audio and video equipment
- etc.
Process steps
- Application
- Product tests in accredited laboratories
- Registration with KATS
- Certificate valid for 5 years
- KC marking
Covered product types
Products with lower voltage, including:
- Starters for fluorescent lamps
- DC power supplies
- Chargers for electrical devices
- etc.
Process steps
- Application
- Proof of testing according to Korean standard
- certificate valid for an unlimited period
How does the KC certification process work?
The procedures of the new KC certifications are relatively standardised, even though there are still different authorities with different responsibilities. Any given procedure consists minimally of application and proof of product testing to Korean standards, and maximally of application, factory inspection, product testing in Korea, marking and annual (simplified) repetition of this procedure. However, the procedures for a large proportion of products tend to be at the simpler end of this spectrum.
South Korea often advertises the cheapest certification costs in Asia…. For the pure administrative steps this may be true, but please note that testing fees (be it from the product itself or from recognised existing test reports) can be comparatively high even compared to European conditions.
The “Korean Agency for Technology and Standards” (KATS) within the “Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy” (MOTIE) is responsible for the registration of your KC certification as well as the development of the KC standards. It should be noted that KATS is a member of the International Standardisation Organisation (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), so that the Korean standards are largely in line with international standards.
KC certification can be carried out either at the “Korea Testing and Research Institute” (KTR), the “Korea Testing Laboratory” (KTL) or the organisation “Korea Testing Certification” (KTC). The South Korean authorities “National Radio Research Agency” (RRA) and the “Korean Communications Commission” (KCC) are responsible for all EMC-related certifications. The industrial safety certifications KCs and KOSHA, in turn, are carried out either by the “Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency” (KOSHA), the “Korea Gas Safety Corporation” (KGS), or again at the “Korea Testing Laboratory” (KTL).
Frequent mistakes
There are errors in the application documents
The authorities for KC etc. also have formal requirements that must be observed.
They have recognised test reports, but testing them costs the same as tests themselves
Recognised test reports can shorten the duration of certification, but do not reduce the fees for product tests.
The products do not comply with the standards
Korean KC standards are almost always based on international standards, especially IEC standards. Nevertheless, there are specific differences every now and then.
The products are not marked
Some products do not need to be marked, but most need a KC logo.