Electronics Adapter Interface to be Unified in Korea,
Electronics,

▍What is KC?

Since 25^th Aug., 2008，Korea Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) announced that the National Standard Committee will conduct a new national unified certification mark — named KC mark replacing Korean Certification during the time between Jul. 2009 and Dec. 2010. Electrical Appliances safety certification scheme (KC Certification) is a mandatory and self-regulatory safety confirmation scheme according to Electrical Appliances Safety Control Act, a scheme which certified safety of manufacture and sale. 

The difference between mandatory certification and self-regulatory (voluntary) safety confirmation：

For the safe management of electrical appliances, KC certification is divided into mandatory and self-regulatory  (voluntary) safety certifications as the classification of danger of  product.The subjects of Mandatory certification is applied to electrical appliances which its structures and methods of application may cause serious dangerous results or obstacle such as fire, electric shock. While the subjects of self-regulatory (voluntary) safety certification is applied to electrical appliances which its structures and methods of application can hardly causes serious dangerous results or obstacle such as fire, electric shock. And the danger and obstacle can be prevented by testing the electrical appliances.

▍Who can apply for KC certification：

All legal persons or individuals both at home and abroad who are engaged in manufacturing, assembly, processing of electrical appliance.

▍Scheme and method of safety certification：

Apply for KC certification with product’s model that can be divided into basic model and series model.

In order to clarify model type and design of electrical appliances, an unique product name will be given according to its different function.

▍ KC certification for Lithium battery

1.  KC certification standard for lithium battery：KC62133:2019
2. Product scope of KC certification for lithium battery

A. Secondary lithium batteries for use in portable application or removable devices

B. Cell is not subject to KC certificate whether for sale or assembled in batteries.

C. For batteries used in energy storage device or UPS (uninterruptible power supply), and their power which is greater than 500Wh are beyond the scope.

D. Battery whose volume energy density is lower than 400Wh/L comes into certification scope since 1^st, Apr. 2016.  

▍Why MCM?

● MCM keeps a close cooperation with Korean labs, such as KTR (Korea Testing & Research Institute) and is able to offer the best solutions with high cost performance and Value-added service to clients from the point of lead time, testing process, certification cost.

● KC certification for rechargeable lithium battery can be gained by submitting a CB certificate and convert it into KC certificate. As a CBTL under TÜV Rheinland, MCM can offer reports and certificates which can be applied for conversion of KC certificate directly. And the lead time can be shortened if applying CB and KC at the same time. What’s more, the related price will be more favorable.

Korea Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) of MOTIE is promoting the development of the Korean Standard (KS) to unify the interface of Korean electronic products into a USB-C type interface. The program, which was previewed on 10 August, will be followed by a meeting of standard in early November and will be developed into a national standard as early as November.Previously, the EU has required that by the end of 2024, twelve devices sold in the EU, such as smartphones, tablets and digital cameras need to be equipped with USB-C ports. Korea did so to facilitate domestic consumers, reduce electronic waste, and ensure the competitiveness of the industry. Considering the technical characteristics of USB-C, KATS will develop Korean national standards within 2022, drawing on three of the 13 international standards, namely KS C IEC 62680-1-2, KS C IEC 62680-1-3, and KS C IEC63002.On 6 September, Korea Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) of MOTIE revised the Safety Standard for Safety Confirmation Object Lifestyle Products (Electric Scooters). As personal electric two-wheeled vehicle is constantly updated, some of them are not included in the safety Management. In order to ensure the safety of consumers and the development of related industries, the original safety standards were revised. This revision mainly added two new product safety standard, “low-speed electric two-wheelers” (저속 전동이륜차) and “other electric personal travel devices (기타 전동식 개인형이동장치)”. And it is clearly stated that the maximum speed of the end product should be less than 25km/h and the lithium battery needs to pass the KC safety confirmation.