If you plan to export battery products to the South Korean market, you will inevitably encounter "KC Certification". Whether it’s smartphone batteries, laptop battery packs, or portable energy storage power supplies, KC Certification is a mandatory safety certification required to enter the South Korean market.

Administered by the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR), this certification aims to ensure the safety of electrical and electronic products and protect consumer rights. For battery manufacturers and exporters, understanding and obtaining KC Certification is a critical step in tapping into the South Korean market.

What Is Korea KC Certification?

The official name of South Korea’s KC Certification is Korea Certification, with the "KC Mark" as its logo. Established under South Korea’s Electrical Appliances Safety Management Act, the certification system was fully implemented in 2009, unifying multiple previous certification marks into a national unified product safety certification system.

For battery products, KTR officially included portable secondary lithium-ion battery packs and cells in the KC Certification system on July 1, 2009. According to regulations, electrical appliances safety certification is mainly divided into two categories:

• Mandatory Safety Certification: Products listed in the catalogue must obtain certification before sale and undergo factory audits.
• Voluntary Safety Confirmation: Products only need to pass tests to obtain certificates, with no factory audits required. Notably, the vast majority of portable secondary lithium batteries currently fall under the "Voluntary Safety Confirmation" category. Certificates are typically valid for 5 years.

Which Battery Products Require KC Certification?

KC Certification covers a wide range of secondary lithium batteries used in portable devices, mainly categorized as follows:

1. Lithium batteries for portable devices: The most common certification scope, including lithium-ion cells and battery packs for mobile phones, tablets, laptops, digital cameras, Bluetooth headsets, etc.
2. Lithium batteries for light electric vehicles: Batteries for personal mobility devices (e.g., e-scooters) with a maximum speed of 25 km/h.
3. Energy storage system batteries: Lithium batteries for stationary or mobile energy storage systems, as well as high-capacity portable power supplies (e.g., outdoor power stations), usually with a capacity between 500Wh and 300kWh, complying with the KC 62619 standard.
4. Batteries for special equipment: Batteries for specific devices such as portable medical equipment and barcode scanners.

A key criterion is energy density: Generally, lithium-ion cells used in portable devices with an energy density exceeding 400Wh/L require certification. Additionally, all batteries for devices with navigation functions (as they may be used in harsh environments such as automobiles) must be certified regardless of energy density.

KC Certification Test Standards & Core Requirements

Battery KC Certification is primarily based on South Korean national standards, which are usually aligned with international standards:

• KC 62133-2:2020: The main safety standard for portable lithium batteries, equivalent to the international standard IEC 62133-2:2017. Test items include safety tests such as high-temperature storage, temperature cycling, external short circuit, crush, overcharge protection, and thermal abuse.
• KC 62619:2023: Applicable to industrial energy storage battery systems, equivalent to IEC 62619:2022.

A mandatory requirement for the certification process: Testing must be conducted in authorized laboratories within South Korea. The number of samples is also clearly specified: usually 25 cells and 10–13 battery packs.

How to Apply for KC Certification? Two Main Paths

Enterprises can choose between two main paths to apply for battery KC Certification based on their specific circumstances:

Regardless of the path chosen, applications must be submitted by a local South Korean importer or manufacturer as the certificate holder.

Required Documents for KC Certification Application

Adequate document preparation is the foundation for successful certification, mainly including:

• Completed KC Certification application form.
• Business licenses of the applicant and manufacturing factory.
• Detailed cell and battery specifications (including English information).
• Circuit schematics and PCB layout diagrams.
• Product label documents.
• List of key components.
• Korean user manual.
• ISO 9001 quality management system certificate (usually required).
• For the CB conversion path: Valid CB test report and certificate.

Our Professional Services: Escorting Your Battery Products to KC Certification

As a professional testing and certification service provider, Guangdong Energy Storage Testing Technology Co., Ltd. understands the complexity and challenges of global market access. We offer efficient and reliable one-stop KC Certification solutions for your battery products:

1. Professional & Accurate Certification Navigation

Our expert team will interpret the latest KC Certification regulations and standards in South Korea, helping you accurately determine your product’s category and applicable standards, and plan the optimal certification path (CB conversion or direct testing) to avoid time and cost waste due to misunderstandings.

2. Full-Process Testing & Document Support

We can assist you in preparing all necessary technical documents, managing the sample submission process, and leveraging our extensive international cooperation network to ensure your products successfully complete all mandatory safety tests in authorized South Korean laboratories.

3. Localization & Compliance Guarantee

We facilitate communication and collaboration with South Korean certificate holders (importers) to ensure a smooth application process. Additionally, we guide you in correctly affixing the KC Mark and certification number to products and packaging, meeting South Korean market labeling requirements.

From pre-consultation, plan formulation, and test coordination to final certification, we are committed to being your most trusted global market compliance partner. If you have any questions about battery KC Certification or need to initiate a certification project, please feel free to contact Guangdong Energy Storage Testing Technology Co., Ltd.—let us help your products successfully enter the South Korean market.