KC Certification in Korea: Does Your Product Need It?

Products in designated categories must carry the KC mark before they can be sold in Korea. Two government agencies divide the work. The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) oversees safety for electrical appliances, consumer goods and children’s products. The National Radio Research Agency (RRA) oversees radio and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) for broadcasting and communications equipment. Many electronic products need approval from both.

Key takeaways

• KC is Korea’s single national certification mark and is compulsory for listed product groups.
• KATS safety rules use risk-based levels: safety certification, safety confirmation and supplier’s declaration of conformity.
• Wireless and EMC requirements are handled separately by the RRA, so a gadget with Bluetooth usually needs both tracks.

What the KC mark covers

Korea introduced the KC mark to replace several earlier compulsory marks with one national mark that signals the product meets safety, health and environmental requirements. It applies only to products listed under the relevant laws. The KS mark is a separate, voluntary industrial standards mark. KATS publishes the official overview and the current product lists.

KATS safety levels

Under Korea’s Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, products are grouped by risk. Each group has its own procedure:

• Safety certification (higher risk): product testing, a factory inspection and follow-up checks after certification.
• Safety confirmation (medium risk): product testing by a designated body and a report to the authorities, without the full factory audit cycle.
• Supplier’s declaration of conformity (lower risk): the supplier makes sure the product meets the standard, through its own or third-party testing, and declares conformity.

The applicant can be the manufacturer or the importer. It submits an application, samples and technical documents to a body designated by the government. Korean-language safety information and labeling are generally required. Product lists are updated, so check the current KATS catalogue for your item instead of relying on an old list. Children’s products are covered by a separate law, the Special Act on the Safety of Children’s Products, rather than this Act.

RRA radio and EMC requirements

Under the Radio Waves Act, broadcasting and communications equipment needs one of these conformity assessments:

• Certification of conformity: usually for radio equipment with higher interference or safety risk.
• Registration of conformity: for lower-risk equipment.
• Interim conformity: for new technologies where no Korean standard exists yet.

Test reports must come from designated laboratories, and the RRA publishes the procedures and the official list of certified equipment. Products with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or other radio functions typically need this assessment in addition to any KATS safety approval.

Steps and timeline planning

1. Classify the product against the current mandatory lists of both KATS and the RRA.
2. Prepare a technical file: specifications, circuit diagrams where required, a Korean user manual and label drafts.
3. Send samples to a designated testing body. International test reports, such as IEC CB reports, can sometimes reduce testing for parts of the safety assessment.
4. Complete testing and any factory inspection.
5. Apply the KC mark and certificate number on the product and packaging only after approval.

Worked example (illustrative timeline). A Bluetooth speaker needs both electrical safety approval and radio certification.

• If safety testing takes 4 weeks and radio testing takes 6 weeks in sequence, you need about 4 + 6 = 10 weeks, plus about 2 weeks for documents and shipping samples, for a total of about 12 weeks.
• If both labs work in parallel, you are limited by the longer track: 6 + 2 = 8 weeks.

Running the two tracks in parallel saves about a month in this example. Actual timelines and fees depend on the product and the laboratory, so get quotes and schedules from designated bodies before you set a launch date.

Many foreign manufacturers work through a Korean importer or an authorized representative who manages the applications. If you plan to sell online, read selling on Coupang as a foreign seller.

Common mistakes

• Assuming one KC approval covers both electrical safety and radio/EMC.
• Classifying the product from an outdated list instead of the current official catalogue.
• Shipping or listing goods before the certificate is issued and the mark is applied correctly.
• Forgetting that higher-risk certified products face factory inspections and follow-up checks.

FAQ

What products need KC certification in Korea?

Listed electrical appliances, many consumer and children’s products, and broadcasting and communications equipment. The lists change, so check the current KATS and RRA information for your product.

Who issues KC certification?

KATS oversees the product safety system and designates the testing and certification bodies. The RRA runs conformity assessment for radio and EMC equipment.

How long does KC certification take?

It depends on the product, the testing queue and whether a factory inspection is needed. Simple items may take a few weeks; complex wireless products often take longer, so plan early.

Can a foreign manufacturer apply for KC certification?

Yes. Foreign manufacturers can usually apply directly or through a Korean importer or representative. Samples and technical documents are still required, and testing is done by designated bodies.

Sources

• Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS), official English website: https://www.kats.go.kr/en/
• National Radio Research Agency (RRA), official website: https://www.rra.go.kr/
• Korean Law Information Center, laws including the Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act: https://www.law.go.kr/

Last checked: 2026-10-10