South Korea has released two important regulatory updates

Recently, South Korea issued two key regulatory adjustments for the household appliance sector, involving certification categories and testing standards, which relevant export companies should pay close attention to.

I. KATS Adjusts KC Certification Categories for 5 Household Appliances, Simplifying Compliance Processes 

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) officially implemented Announcement No. 2026-95 on April 1, 2026, adjusting the KC certification categories for 5 categories of household appliances to further optimize product compliance pathways:

1. Certification Category Adjustment: Electric floor cleaners, washing machines, electric dryers, microwave ovens, and bathroom appliances will be changed from KC safety certification to KC safety confirmation.(Supplementary Note: If the cleaning equipment has a power ≤3KW and a voltage ≤30VAC/42VDC, it will be included in the scope of the KC Supplier Declaration of Conformity (SDoC), which can be registered by the Korean importer on the official website with a test report.)

2. Transition Period and Certificate Validity:

Products already certified: Products that have previously obtained safety certification or exemption from inspection are automatically considered to meet the safety confirmation requirements and do not need to reapply, nor are factory inspections required.

Products in the certification process: Products that have submitted a security certification application but have not yet completed will automatically be transferred to the security confirmation application process, and no resubmission of materials is required.

3. Differences between the three certification modes:

II. RRA Upgrades EMC Testing Standards, New and Old Standards in Parallel Transition 

The Korea Radio Research Agency (RRA) implemented Notification No. 2025-50 on August 21, 2025, upgrading its electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing standards:

1. Standard Updates: The core EMC testing methods standards are replaced with five 2024 versions of standards, including KS X 3124:2024 and KS X 3128:2024.

2. Transition Period Arrangements: After the implementation of the new standards, the original "Electromagnetic Compatibility Test Method No. 3" will continue to apply; when conducting conformity assessments according to Article 4, the original provisions will still be used.

Company Response Recommendations: 

In response to this regulatory adjustment, BTL's International Department and Business Department will provide dedicated support to companies to assist in completing pre-export regulatory verification, ensuring that products meet the latest Korean compliance requirements and smoothly enter the Korean market. Companies with questions can contact the relevant personnel at any time. 

This regulatory adjustment is an important measure for South Korea to optimize the management of safety and electromagnetic compatibility of home appliances. Exporting companies need to pay close attention to changes in product classification and standards, make compliance preparations in advance, and avoid affecting the product launch schedule due to regulatory changes.