KC Certificate
South Korea is one of the world’s most important and innovative industrialized countries. Many products entering the South Korean market must be tested and certified in order to be introduced to the market. Every manufacturer exporting products to South Korea needs to be familiar with KC certification as it is the only product quality certification in the country. This article explains and describes all the key information and the entire KC certification process.
1. What is the KC?
KC, or Korea Certification, proves that a product meets the Korean Quality Standards. It was introduced in 2009 to replace and unify the previous 13 different quality certification systems. This system aims to prevent and reduce the risks related to safety, health, or environmental impact.
2. What is the KC certification for?
The KC certificate is similar to the European Union CE mark and applies to 730 different products. It confirms that a product meets current Korean safety standards.
3. List of goods/product under KC Mark?
Consumer goods
Household appliances
High visibility warning clothing
Scales
Audio & video equipment
Spectacle frames
Fans
Tents
Fire extinguishers
Motorbike helmets
Automotive parts…
Products for children
Bicycles for children
Toys
Chairs for children
Textiles for children and babies
School utensils…
Electronics
high voltage and higher risk products (certification):
wiring harnesses
electrical cables
switches for electrical apparatus
filters
insulated transformers
capacitors
fuse holders
switches
motorized electrical tools…
High voltage and higher risk products (safety inspection):
electrical switches
audio and video equipment
electrical equipment
information technology equipment,…
Products with lower voltage (supplier compliance):
chargers for electrical devices
starters for fluorescent lamps
DC power supplies…
4. KC Certification process
The KC certification process consists of several steps and involves many documents.
KC certification step by step
Preparation of application and documents
Registration at the Korean certification authority
Factory inspection (only for Korea Safety Certificate)
Product tests in an accredited test laboratory
Documentation verification and issuance of the KC Mark Certificate
5. The following application documents are needed for the KC Mark Certification:?
Application Form
Business License
Complete contact details of the Korean importer and the production plant
Product descriptions and/or user manuals (in the Korean language)
List of critical components
KC or CB certificates of critical components
Circuit diagrams (electronic products only)
If available, CB certificate and test report of the products according to IEC standards, which includes 220V (AC) 60Hz
6. How long does it take to get the KC Certification?
For a KC certification that only requires product testing, the process can usually be completed within 3-4 months. It includes preparing the application documents, assuming all the necessary information is provided and correct.
Product testing takes 1-2 months, depending on how much coordination with the test lab for a specific product is required. Moreover, the process can be significantly shortened under certain conditions (completed CB certification), as product re-testing is not required.
For product categories that require a factory audit, the certification process takes longer as it requires more steps.
