South Korea has updated part of its electrical appliance safety framework. On 20 July 2026, the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) announced revisions to seven electrical appliance safety standards under the country’s KC (Korea Certification) safety regime. The revisions bring Korea’s standards into line with international agreements, including the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO/TBT) and the IECEE.
The changes affect a mix of household appliances and lighting-related products, and come with a transition period that gives manufacturers time to adapt.
Which Standards Were Revised
The seven revised KC safety standards are:
- KC 60335-2-2 — Vacuum cleaners and water-suction cleaning appliances
- KC 60335-2-12 — Warming plates and similar appliances
- KC 60335-2-30 — Room heaters
- KC 60335-2-32 — Massage appliances
- KC 60081 — Double-capped fluorescent lamps (performance specifications)
- KC 60969 — Self-ballasted compact fluorescent lamps for general lighting (performance requirements)
- KC 61347-2-3 — Lamp control gear for a.c. and/or d.c. supplied electronic control gear for fluorescent lamps
Effective Date and One-Year Transition
The revised standards took effect on 20 July 2026. To give manufacturers and importers time to adapt, KATS has provided a one-year transition period running until 20 July 2027.
During this window, companies may comply with either the previous or the revised safety standards. Once the transition period ends, compliance with the revised standards becomes mandatory.
Why This Matters
For manufacturers and importers of the affected appliances and lighting products, the transition period is the window to get ahead of the change. Products certified against the older standards remain acceptable for now, but any product placed on the Korean market after 20 July 2027 will need to meet the revised requirements.
Reviewing existing certifications and test reports early, and confirming what the revised standards change for each product, helps avoid a last-minute scramble before the deadline.
What This Means for Manufacturers
Businesses placing these electrical appliances or lighting products on the Korean market should:
- Identify whether their products fall under any of the seven revised KC standards.
- Review the revised requirements against their current certifications and test reports.
- Plan any necessary re-testing or updates during the transition period.
- Ensure full compliance with the revised standards before 20 July 2027, when they become mandatory.
To read the official documentation (Korean only), refer to the KATS notice on the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards notices portal.
How C-PRAV Can Support You
C-PRAV helps manufacturers and importers achieve global market access and regulatory compliance, including KC certification for the South Korean market. Our team can assess your household appliances and lighting products against the revised KC safety standards, coordinate the required safety testing, and prepare and manage the certification documentation needed to keep your products compliant and market-ready ahead of the 2027 deadline.
Have questions? We’re here to help.