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New KC Certification Requirements for Exporting Home Appliances to Korea
发布日期：2026-08-20阅读量：224发布者：suma
In the first half of 2026, the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) issued multiple announcements, making the biggest changes in recent years to the KC safety certification system for home appliances. The updates cover several areas, including downgrading certification categories, revising technical standards, updating charger standards, and making cybersecurity testing mandatory. Chinese home appliance exporters need to complete compliance checks before the shipping peak from August to the second half of the year to avoid customs delays due to outdated standards or choosing the wrong certification path.
1. Five types of home appliances are downgraded from 'safety certification' to 'safety confirmation'
In the first half of 2026, the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) continuously issued multiple announcements, making the biggest recent adjustments to the KC safety certification system for household appliances. The changes cover various aspects such as downgrading certification categories, revising technical standards, updating charger standards, and including cybersecurity testing as mandatory. Chinese home appliance exporters need to complete compliance checks before the peak shipping season from August to the second half of the year to avoid customs clearance issues caused by outdated standards or choosing the wrong certification path.
On April 1, KATS issued Announcement No. 2026-56 (with supporting Announcement No. 2026-95), changing five major categories of electrical products from "Mandatory Safety Certification" to "Voluntary Safety Confirmation."
Products involved include:
- Vacuum cleaners (including standard, wet, steam, and high-pressure cleaners)
- Electric washing machines, spin dryers, washer-dryer combos
- Electric dryers (including rotary dryers, hand dryers, garment care machines)
The changes focus on four aspects. First, mandatory factory inspections and annual surveillance audits are canceled. Second, the certificate holder scope expands from factories only to include manufacturers and Korean importers. Third, certificates are valid for five years and can be renewed upon expiration. Fourth, products that previously received safety certification or were exempt from inspection are automatically considered to have completed the safety confirmation notification without reapplying; ongoing applications will be automatically converted.
For exporters, the certification cycle for these five product types is reduced by about 4 to 6 weeks, saving travel and audit fees associated with factory inspections. The rationale behind KATS's downgrade is that these product categories are highly mature technologically and have low accident rates, allowing regulatory resources to be redirected to higher-risk areas.
Products involved include:
- Vacuum cleaners (including standard, wet, steam, and high-pressure cleaners)
- Electric washing machines, spin dryers, washer-dryer combos
- Electric dryers (including rotary dryers, hand dryers, garment care machines)
The changes focus on four aspects. First, mandatory factory inspections and annual surveillance audits are canceled. Second, the certificate holder scope expands from factories only to include manufacturers and Korean importers. Third, certificates are valid for five years and can be renewed upon expiration. Fourth, products that previously received safety certification or were exempt from inspection are automatically considered to have completed the safety confirmation notification without reapplying; ongoing applications will be automatically converted.
For exporters, the certification cycle for these five product types is reduced by about 4 to 6 weeks, saving travel and audit fees associated with factory inspections. The rationale behind KATS's downgrade is that these product categories are highly mature technologically and have low accident rates, allowing regulatory resources to be redirected to higher-risk areas.
2. Revision of Seven Home Appliance Safety Standards, Mandatory from July 20
In January 2026, KATS issued a WTO notification (G/TBT/N/KOR/1333), revising technical standards for seven types of household and similar electrical appliances. Details are as follows:
Standard Number | Product
KC 60335-2-2 | Vacuum cleaners
KC 60335-2-12 | Heaters
KC 60335-2-30 | Room heaters
KC 60335-2-32 | Massagers
KC 60081 | Double-ended fluorescent lamps
KC 60969 | Self-ballasted lamps
KC 61347-2 | Lamp control devices
The new standards have been mandatory since July 20, 2026, with no transition period. For products applying for new KC safety certification or safety confirmation after July 20, the new standards must be applied. Products already certified can continue using their current certification until it expires, but renewals or changes must comply with the new standards.
Also, KATS revised KC standards for 34 types of electrical appliances in October 2025, mainly to unify terminology and optimize wording. The test items and limits didn’t change, but labs need to confirm they’re using the latest version when issuing reports.
3. Battery Charger Standard Update, One-Year Transition Period
On February 5, 2026, KATS issued Announcement No. 2026-23, updating KC 60335-2-29 "Safety of Household and Similar Electrical Appliances - Part 2-29: Particular Requirements for Battery Chargers."
This standard covers household battery chargers with a rated voltage not exceeding 250V and outputs within specified limits, including chargers used in homes, garages, stores, agriculture, and other non-industrial settings. The revisions align with international IEC standards and strengthen safety requirements such as protection against electric shock, temperature rise, and abnormal conditions.
Transition arrangements: From February 5, 2026, certification applications can follow the new version; between February 5, 2026, and February 5, 2027, both old and new standards will be accepted, with the old version (Announcement No. 2025-402) remaining valid; starting February 6, 2027, the old version will be withdrawn, and only the new version will be accepted. Export companies have a one-year grace period to complete testing and update their documents.
South Korea will officially implement network security regulations for connected devices in 2026.
KATS started enforcing the KS X 3007:2026 standard on May 21. Imported network cameras and video surveillance equipment must meet four requirements: firmware updates must be digitally signed; default passwords must be changed at first setup; communications must use TLS 1.2 or higher encryption; and the KC security certification initiation process must be completed.
At the same time, the Korea Radio Research Agency (RRA) revised Chapter 7 of KS X 3078, adding extra password security requirements for video devices, which came into effect on June 23.
For companies exporting smart cameras and surveillance equipment, network security testing adds 1 to 2 weeks to the certification cycle. Firmware signature verification and TLS encrypted communication need to be built in during the product design stage and cannot be added after the sample is submitted.
In addition, connected devices must also submit two documents: a network security compliance declaration signed by the company representative (declarations signed by agents are not accepted), and a network security test report covering data encryption, anti-attack capabilities, and vulnerability management.
Currently, mandatory network security requirements mainly focus on network cameras and video surveillance. IoT categories like smart plugs and smart lights are not yet officially included, but KATS has indicated plans to gradually expand in that direction.
5. Cross-Border E-Commerce Channels Tightening
Starting in 2026, South Korea will significantly strengthen KC certification checks for cross-border e-commerce channels. Major platforms like Coupang and Gmarket will be required to review KC certification for products listed. Sellers who can't provide a valid KC certificate won't be allowed to list their products.
Customs will also tighten up. Any commercial goods entering the Korean market, no matter the channel, will need KC certification documents. Products found without the KC mark or with invalid certificates during market spot checks will face delisting, recalls, and fines.
Previously, some companies tried to bypass customs inspections via small-package direct shipping or cross-border e-commerce warehouses, but with the platform's pre-check system, that’s no longer possible.
6. Three KC Certification Modes and Their Applicable Scope
KC certification is divided into three modes based on product risk levels. Companies need to match the certification path according to the product category:
Mandatory Safety Certification (Safety Certification) - For high-risk products (wires, power tools, high-power electric heaters, etc.). Requires product testing and factory inspection, with an initial factory audit plus annual reviews. Certificates have no fixed validity period and rely on annual reviews to maintain. The process takes 8 to 12 weeks.
Voluntary Safety Confirmation (Safety Confirmation) - For medium-risk products (audio-visual equipment, IT devices, most small home appliances). Only product testing (safety plus EMC) is needed, no factory inspections. Certificates are valid for 5 years. The process takes 4 to 6 weeks. The five types of downgraded home appliances mentioned above fall into this mode.
Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (Supplier's DoC) - For low-risk products. Companies can self-declare along with product testing; no certification application is required. Permanently valid, with test reports kept for reference.
7. Key Points for Compliance Operations for Exporting Companies
Prerequisites for Certification Application. Chinese manufacturers cannot hold KC certificates directly and must authorize a Korean importer or agent to apply for the certificate. Products must meet South Korea's 220V/60Hz electrical standards, and plugs must use KC-certified Korean standard plugs.
Choosing Testing Institutions. Testing must be conducted at KATS-accredited laboratories, including local Korean institutions like KTL, KTC, and KCL. Having a CB report can exempt some test items but must cover Korean national differences (DK differences), otherwise KATS will not accept it. Companies are advised to declare the need to cover Korean differences when applying for CB certification.
Compliance of Key Components. Key components such as power cords, plugs, and thermostats must have KC or CB certification. Components without certification will result in the whole device being rejected during testing.
Labels and Documentation. Certified products must have the KC mark (minimum font height 5mm) and certification number on the body, including a Korean-language after-sales phone number. Products must have a 'MADE IN CHINA' origin label. A Korean version of the user manual must be provided. Korean customs require EDI entry, and the bill of lading, packing list, and invoice must be submitted to the Korean buyer at the time of booking at the port of origin.
Dual Certification for Wireless Products. Products with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi functionality must obtain both KC safety certification and KCC radio frequency certification. RRA implements a three-level management for wireless devices: high-risk equipment (cellular, high-power RF, requiring SAR evaluation) goes through Conformity Certification (CoC), low-power short-range devices (Bluetooth headsets, wireless keyboards/mice, etc.) go through Compatibility Registration, and temporary certification applies to new technology products without applicable Korean standards yet.
Post-Certification Management. Certificates are valid for 5 years (DoC and some CoC), and renewal should be submitted 3 months before expiration. Changes to product design, key components, or processes require re-testing or filing. CoC types require annual supervision audits; DoC types are subject to random market inspections. Test reports and technical documents must be kept for more than 10 years.
Sources: Korea Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) Notices No. 2026-56, 2026-95, 2026-23; WTO Notification G/TBT/N/KOR/1333; Korea Radio Research Agency (RRA) announcements; publicly available information from the Ministry of Commerce Trade Remedy Investigation Bureau.
