Korea KC Mark Certification

Are you ready to expand your product’s reach to the South Korean market? Do you understand the requirements to comply with Korea’s KC certification standards? Navigating the complexities of international certification can be challenging, especially when dealing with stringent regulations like those required for KC (Korea Certification) marks in South Korea. At 360Compliance, we specialize in simplifying this process, ensuring your products meet all necessary Korean standards for electrical and electronic equipment safety.

What is KC Certification?

KC stands for Korea Certification, a mandatory safety certification scheme for electrical appliances, machinery, and other designated products sold in South Korea. Like the CE marking in Europe, the KC Mark signifies that a product complies with Korean safety regulations and quality standards.

The country’s development of standards and regulations is overseen by the Korea Technology and Standards Agency (KATS). At the moment, there are more than 20,000 standards (KS) that foreign manufacturers must follow. Most of them are written in Korean.

What is the Meaning of the KC Mark?

Korea Certification focuses on the prevention and reduction of safety, health, or environmental risks. KC certification is a mandatory certification for electronic and electrical products. All legal entities or individuals, both in the country and abroad, who are engaged in producing, assembling, and processing electrical appliances can apply. The list of required documents includes: 

1. Application;
2. Product label; 
3. Description of equipment; 
4. List of all product details; 
5. List of derived models; 
6. Wiring diagram and location; 
7. Parts certificate; 
8. Specification of transformers and inductors; 
9. CB certificate and protocol.

The KC Certification Process

Achieving KC Certification involves several steps:

• Preparation of documents, filling out an application, and sending a sample;
• Carrying out tests of samples;
• Preparation of a test report;
• In some cases, an audit of the production factory is carried out;
• Obtaining a certificate if approved.

What Products Require KC Certification?

The Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) maintains a comprehensive list of products subject to mandatory KC Certification. These include:

• Electrical appliances (e.g., TVs, refrigerators, washing machines)
• Information and communication technology (ICT) equipment (e.g., computers, smartphones)
• Machinery and tools (e.g., industrial robots, power tools)
• Toys and childcare articles
• Medical devices

Why is KC Mark Important?

Despite the small size of the country, South Korea has become home to many global brands in the electronic equipment industry. Many manufacturers are seeking to gain access to the Korean market as this will significantly increase the number of consumers and gain a competitive advantage. KC Mark Certification is a mandatory condition that an electrical appliance seller must fulfill.

KC Mark Certification – Marking

The KC marking appeared in 2009 when Korean authorities decided to combine several different markings at once into one system. This not only simplified the process of obtaining a certificate for manufacturers but also reduced the time and cost for both parties. If your product meets IEC international standards, it will not be difficult for you to get a KC Mark, as their requirements are not very different. 

After passing all tests and receiving certification for your product, you must affix the KC label to your equipment along with additional necessary information. Requirements may vary by product category.

Mandatory information on the label includes:

• KC logo;
• Model and name of the device;
• Date of manufacture;
• Rated voltage.

Duration of the KC Certification

The time it takes to get a KC certificate depends on several factors: 

1. The speed of preparing a list of documents. 
2. Product testing. Depending on the category of electrical equipment, this process can take from several weeks to a couple of months. 
3. In some cases, the requirements for obtaining a certificate include an audit of the factory where the electrical appliance is manufactured. 

Usually, the process takes about 4 months if the applicant did not make mistakes when filling out the documents or serious errors were not detected during the testing of the equipment.

KC Certification Authorities

KATS is a Korean organization that sets the KS certification rules for foreign electrical equipment manufacturers if they want to sell their products in South Korea. This is one of the most important functions of the agency, although, in fact, the list of their duties is quite long and concerns standardization, certification, and the influence of foreign companies on the market in the country. Industrial Product Safety Management and Supervision Law and Electrical Appliance Safety Law are used for electrical equipment that is tested for certification.

Permission to conduct tests has:

• Korean Institute of Testing and Research (KTR)
• Korean Testing Laboratory (KTL)
• Korean Test Certification (KTC)

How 360Compliance Can Help You?

Getting KC certification allows you to enter the Korean market. Despite the clear instructions provided by Korean authorities, the applicant may still make mistakes that can result in significant delays and additional financial costs. To avoid such problems, manufacturers can trust specialists in the field of electronic equipment certification. 

360Compliance experts are familiar with all the nuances of Korean law and have enough experience to help you get the KC label the first time. We offer assistance at every stage of certification, from the preparation of documents to the assistance in conducting the necessary product tests. With 360Compliance, you will be able to enter the South Korean market faster. Please contact 360Compliance if you have any questions.