KC Safety Certification and Safety Confirmation: Checking Coverage and Application Documents — Imported and OEM Electrical and Household Products

Procedure

1. 1. Check which safety category applies

   Look up the product in Annex 3 (safety certification), Annex 4 (safety confirmation) and Annex 5 (supplier's declaration of conformity) of the Enforcement Rule. Even within the same type, the category changes with the power supply or rating: an electric heating pad using AC power is subject to safety certification, while one using DC power is subject to supplier's declaration of conformity. Products used by children aged 13 or under fall under the Special Act on the Safety of Children's Products, so check that separately.

2. 2. Organize models and the applicant

   Certification and reports are made per model, so first organize the model names, configuration and manufacturing plants of the imported or OEM products. A foreign manufacturer may appoint a person residing in Korea as its agent to apply, and if two or more plants make the same product, a copy of the business registration certificate for each plant and a document proving the products are identical are required. Securing the product description, electrical circuit diagram and parts list from the overseas manufacturer before signing the contract avoids delays in the application.

3. 3. Apply for safety certification

   For products subject to safety certification, submit the safety certification application with a copy of the business registration certificate, product description, electrical circuit diagram and parts list (electrical appliances), a sample of the certification mark and other attachments to a safety certification body, and provide samples for product testing. The safety certification body must notify the result within 45 days from receiving the application, extended by the excess period for products whose testing takes more than 30 days. When importing the same model that another importer has already certified, the application is made with the safety certification body's test report attached to confirm that the model is identical.

4. 4. Safety confirmation report and supplier's declaration of conformity

   For products subject to safety confirmation, obtain a safety confirmation test report from a designated safety confirmation testing body and file it with the safety confirmation report before shipment or customs clearance. For products subject to supplier's declaration of conformity, test the product directly or commission testing, prepare the supplier's declaration of conformity and keep it with the product description and test report, and for electrical appliances submit the supplier's declaration of conformity report to the Korea Product Safety Management Institute. In both procedures, documents proving conformity with the safety standards must be kept on file.

5. 5. Exemption confirmation and marking

   Products for research and development use by research institutes or corporate research centers, research and development samples of manufacturers, items exhibited at trade shows or fairs not for sale, and products for safety certification testing receive an exemption confirmation certificate and exemption mark by filing an exemption confirmation application with the Korea Product Safety Management Institute before shipment or customs clearance. A parallel import of the same model certified by the exclusive domestic licensee can be exempted from product testing and factory audit once the model is confirmed identical. After certification or reporting, the mark must be placed on the product or packaging, and covered products without the mark cannot be sold, rented, or imported, displayed or stored for sale.

Required documents

• Safety certification application (Enforcement Rule of the Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, Form No. 4)
• Safety confirmation report (Form No. 14 of the same Enforcement Rule, for products subject to safety confirmation), supplier's declaration of conformity (Form No. 17) and supplier's declaration of conformity report (Form No. 18, for electrical appliances subject to supplier's declaration of conformity)
• Copy of the business registration certificate or an equivalent document (for each plant if two or more plants make the same product)
• Product description, electrical circuit diagram and parts list (electrical appliances), and technical documents such as mechanical design and circuit manufacturing drawings (applicable consumer products)
• Safety confirmation test report from a safety confirmation testing body (safety confirmation report), samples for product testing (safety certification)
• Document proving agency (when a domestic agent of a foreign manufacturer applies, etc.), document proving the products are identical (when there are two or more plants)
• Samples of the safety certification or safety confirmation mark
• For exemption: exemption confirmation application (Form No. 7 of the same Enforcement Rule) and documents proving the ground for exemption

Fees

Typically several tens of thousands to several hundred thousand won in the industry · Quoted after consultation depending on the number of models to check, whether the procedure is safety certification, safety confirmation or supplier's declaration of conformity, and the availability of technical documents from the overseas manufacturer. Testing and certification fees are separate.

See fees and official charges for this service →

Legal basis and review date

• Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, Article 2
• Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, Article 5
• Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, Article 6
• Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, Article 9
• Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, Article 10
• Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, Article 15
• Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, Article 23
• Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, Article 49
• Enforcement Decree of the Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, Article 8
• Enforcement Rule of the Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, Articles 7, 8, 9, 13, 15, 26, 27, 40 and 41
• Enforcement Rule of the Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, Annexes 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
• Enforcement Rule of the Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act, Forms No. 4, 7, 14, 17 and 18
• Special Act on the Safety of Children's Products, Article 2

Checked against the statutes on 2026-10-10

Statutes and public notices change, so each case needs to be checked individually. Statute titles are given in English for reference. The Korean statutes are the authoritative text.

Check these first

• Manufacturing or importing a product subject to safety certification without certification, or selling, displaying or storing an electrical appliance subject to safety certification without the mark, is punishable by imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 30,000,000 won, so complete the procedure before shipment or customs clearance.
• If safety-related matters such as parts or structure of a certified product are changed, a change certification or change report is required.

Frequently asked questions