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The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) has revised the KC safety standards for Protective helmets for vehicular users to align them with products currently distributed in the market under Notification No. 2026-031 . This revision updates Annex 52 (Protective helmets for vehicular users) of the Safety Standards for Consumer Products Subject to Safety Confirmation to reflect internationally applicable requirements. The amended standards will take effect on October 11, 2026. Key Revisions Update of helmet types to align with current market products Types of headform for testing expanded from 3 to 6, with improved size indication for users Test methods updated to reflect the new headform specifications, and new requirements established for helmets without chin straps GCA Korea provides expert support for global companies navigating Korea’s regulatory requirements, including KC Certification. Our expertise covers  KC EMC ,  KC Safety ,  KC Energy ...

The KC safety standards for electrical appliances, KC 60335-2-29 (Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-29 ： Particular requirements for battery chargers), have been revised. Key changes include expanded ripple-free DC output voltage range and refined charger type classifications to align with updated international standards, under Notification No. 2026-23 . The new standards take effect immediately, effective on February 5, 2026. Note : Existing Safety standards remain in parallel until February 5, 2027. KC 60335-2-29     Previous   Revised Applicable Standards IEC 60335-2-29 Ed 5.0 (2016-06) IEC 60335-2-29 Ed 5.1 (2019-03) Ripple-free DC Output Range Up to 120 V Up to 250 V Charger Types Single Criterion Introduction of Type 1·Type 2   GCA Korea provides expert support for global companies navigating Korea’s regulatory requirements, including KC Certification. Our expertise covers  KC EMC ,  KC Safety ,  KC Energy Efficien...

On November 17, 2025, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) issued   Announcement No. 2025-321  and  No. 2025-322 , proposing a revision to reclassify certain electrical appliances from Safety Certification to Safety Confirmation. The revision reflects technological advancements and the diversified, rapidly evolving market environment for electrical products. Key proposed changes - The following items will be reclassified from Safety Certification to Safety Confirmation: Electric cleaners Washing machines and spin dryers Microwave ovens (operating in the frequency range of 300   MHz   –   30   GHz) Electric dryers Electric appliances for bathroom use Note : Under the Safety Confirmation scheme, regular factory inspections, which are currently conducted every two years under the previous Safety Certification system, will be exempt. Instead, product samples produced at the manufacturing factory will be tested...

On December 23, 2025, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) issued an announcement No. 2025-370 , proposing a revision to the safety standard KC 60335-2-29 (Household and Similar Electrical Appliances – Safety – Part 2-29: Particular Requirements for Battery Chargers). This revision aims to update the safety standards in alignment with international standards. KATS is collecting public opinions on the proposed amendment until February 3, 2026. Key Revisions Update of IEC Edition: Ed 5.0 (2016-06) → Ed 5.1 (2019-03) Expansion of ripple-free DC output range: Up to 120 V → Up to 250 V Classification of charger types based on transformer specifications: - Type 1: Battery charger output circuits supplied through a safety isolating transformer (DC output voltage must not exceed 120 V) - Type 2: Battery charger output circuits supplied through an isolating transformer (DC output voltage must not exceed 250 V) GCA Korea provides expert support for globa...

On December 22, 2025, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) issued an administrative pre-announcement of revisions to the Standards for Handling Nonconformity with Household Product Safety Standards and the Operational Guidelines for the Safety Management of Electrical Appliances and Household Products , with the aim of enhancing the safety management efficiency of protective helmets for sports users and clarifying the scope of safety application by type. This revision serves as a follow-up to the upcoming amendment of safety standards for sports helmets , effective February 2, 2026. Public opinions will be collected until January 12, 2026. Key Revision Details Alignment of test items (materials, performance, etc.) with the updated safety standards Improved non-compliance handling criteria reflecting real-world hazard levels, such as retention system performance Addition of missing model classifications for hiking and ski helmets Clarification of types for ba...

On December 5, 2025, the Korea Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) announced the results of a safety inspection of 402 products sold on overseas online platforms. The inspection, focused on winter-season items, found that 36 products (9%) failed to meet KC safety standards. This rate is significantly higher than the 5% average observed in domestically distributed products. Key noncompliant items included Electrical appliances: heating pads (5), batteries (2), electric blankets (1), electric stoves (1) Children’s products: children’s textiles (7), school supplies (6), toys (4), infant textiles (3) Household items: heat packs (2), ski helmets (1), and electric scooters (1) KATS disclosed details of the identified hazardous products and requested that online platforms block sales of the affected items, implementing measures to safeguard consumer safety. GCA KOREA offers a comprehensive one-stop service covering importation, customs clearance, testing...

On December 3, 2025, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) issued an administrative pre-announcement to amend the KC safety standards for two-wheeled bicycles and electric boards, which are designated as Household Products Subject to Safety Confirmation. The revision aims to prevent fall accidents caused by weld breakage in folding bicycles, curb illegal maximum speed modifications on electric bicycles and boards, and address unlawful brake removal from regular bicycles through strengthened safety standards. KATS is collecting public opinions regarding this change until February 6, 2026. Key Points of the Revision Adds “whether equipped with a folding frame mechanism” as a new classification criterion for two-wheeled bicycles (regular, mountain, and electric). Mandates that users of electric bicycles and boards are unable to manipulate or unlock the maximum speed (under 25 km/h). Elevates brake defects in regular bicycles and top speed defects in electric ...

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) has issued a notification of a revision to the Standards for Handling Nonconformity with Electrical Appliance Safety Standards to better align with international standards. The revised standards took effect on November 26, 2025, the date of notification. Key amendments include: Changes to inspection items for isolation transformers, electrical equipment, power tools, and lighting equipment. Removal of electric vehicle components and connectors from safety control categories, and the addition of automotive adapters as a new category. In Korea, electrical appliances are classified by risk level under three KC safety management systems: Safety Certification, Safety Confirmation, or Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) . Each system specifies target product categories and safety standards.  KATS regularly inspects even certified products, and when noncompliance is identified, the agency may order recalls, sales su...

KATS* conducted safety inspections on 1,100 products identified as having high noncompliance rates or frequent safety incidents. As a result, the agency ordered recalls for 63 products that failed to meet national safety standards.   Among the recalled products, children’s items accounted for 42 cases, the largest portion of the total, including children’s textiles with unsafe cords or drawstrings and toys containing excessive levels of lead, preservatives, and boron.   Under the Special Act on the Safety of Children’s Products, children’s goods in Korea are managed under three categories: safety certification, safety confirmation, and supplier’s declaration of conformity (SDoC). Even certified products face routine inspections to ensure continued compliance. Noncompliant products may face recalls, sales bans, or corrective orders.   * KATS: Korean Agency for Technology and Standards   GCA KOREA provides a comprehensive one-stop service covering impor...

On November 3, 2025, the KATS* announced a draft amendment to Appendix 52 (Protective helmets and their visors for motorized vehicle users) of the safety standards for Consumer products subject to safety verification. Public opinions on the proposed changes are accepted until November 28, 2025. Main Amendments Newly cite international standards such as ISO/CIE 11664-1 and ISO/CIE 11664-2, and update helmet types Relax penetration resistance test criteria to align with international standards Expand test headform sizes from 3 to 6 and improve size labeling from XS to XXL for users Establish standards for photochromic eye protectors and add warnings for helmets without chin straps * KATS: Korea Agency for Technology and Standards GCA Korea provides expert support for global companies navigating South Korea’s regulatory requirements. Our specialties include  KC EMC ,  KC Safety ,  KC Energy Efficiency ,  KC Automotive Components ,  KCsEx (...

This notification takes effect on October 27, 2025. On October 27, 2025, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) announced the revision of 34 electrical product safety standards, effective immediately. Revised 34 Electrical Appliance Safety Standards KC 60335-2-10  Household and similar electrical appliances － Safety Part 2-10: Particular requirements for floor treatment machines and wet scrubbing machines KC 60335-2-16  Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-16: Particular requirements for food waste disposers KC 60335-2-21  Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-21: Particular requirements for storage water heaters KC 60335-2-24  Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-24: Particular requirements for refrigerating appliances, ice-cream appliances and ice makers KC 60335-2-28  Household and similar electrical appliances - Safety - Part 2-28: Particular...