KC Certification

KC Certification (Korea Certification) is the Korean national standard certification system established by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) under the Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act. KC certification covers two categories: mandatory Safety Certification and voluntary Supplier's Confirmation of Conformity (SDo C). Lithium batteries are subject to mandatory safety certification under the Korean Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act and must pass KC certification before being sold in the Korean market. KC battery certification is based on the standard KS C IEC 62133 (Korean National Standard, equivalent to IEC 62133). Some products must also meet current Korean technical specifications. The color values, dimensions, and labeling methods of the KC certification mark are strictly regulated by Korean law.

KC battery certification applies to the following lithium battery products: portable sealed secondary lithium battery cells and battery packs with rated energy not exceeding 100 Wh, lithium batteries for mobile phones, lithium batteries for laptops, lithium batteries for tablets, lithium batteries for digital cameras, lithium batteries for power tools, lithium batteries for portable navigation devices, lithium batteries for wearable devices such as Bluetooth earphones and smartwatches, and power banks (portable secondary lithium battery packs). Primary lithium metal batteries and industrial large-scale energy storage battery systems are not within the scope of KC mandatory certification. Electric vehicle power batteries must meet a separate Korean certification system (KMVSS).

The older version also includes a Free Fall test.

KC Safety Certification factory inspection requirements: After certification, at least one annual follow-up audit is conducted. The audit covers production line equipment operation status, incoming inspection records, finished product factory inspection records, critical component change management, product consistency verification (verifying consistency between production products and certified products), and labeling and instruction manual inspection. Failure in the factory inspection will result in certificate suspension or revocation. KC certification mark requirements: The mark must include the certification number and certification body name (such as KTL, KTC, etc.). The mark size is adjusted according to product size, with a minimum height of no less than 5mm. Battery products must also display rated voltage, capacity, polarity, manufacturing date, and other information.

The following documents are required for KC certification application: Company business license (Korean agent information), product specification (in Korean or English), circuit schematic and PCB layout, battery specification and UN38.3 test report, BOM material list, product label and manual (Korean version), factory quality management system documents (such as ISO 9001 certificate). Notes: KC certification requires a Korean local agent or importer as the applicant; foreign manufacturers cannot apply directly. KC Safety Certification certificates are granted for specific models only; model changes require a new application. If battery products use different cells, each cell model must be tested separately. Korean customs strictly inspects KC certification; uncertified products will be detained and destroyed. Proper use of the KC certification mark is critical; incorrect mark format may result in fines. KC certification testing typically takes 4-6 weeks, with factory inspection requiring an additional 1-2 weeks.