If a vacuum cleaner is to enter the South Korean market, the KC certification of the battery is an unavoidable threshold. This is a mandatory certification promoted by the Korea Institute of Standards and Technology (KATS), which focuses on the safety and electromagnetic compatibility of electronic and electrical products. As the battery of a vacuum cleaner is a portable lithium battery, it has been explicitly included in the scope of mandatory certification.
In 2025, KC certification has new regulations to note: New requirements for submitting carbon footprint reports have been added. For vacuum cleaner batteries with network connection functions, a cybersecurity statement must also be attached. The testing standards also refer to the latest UN38.3 revised version, and new frequency band requirements have been added for electromagnetic compatibility testing. The core certification standard is KC 62133. The tests focus on safety, such as overcharge protection tests (simulating abnormal charging scenarios), short-circuit protection tests, and high-temperature stability tests (operating at 60℃), to ensure there are no safety hazards in extreme situations. Wireless charging models also need to comply with electromagnetic radiation limits and temperature rise requirements.
The application process consists of four steps: First, consult the certification body to determine the plan; Re-sample testing, with a cycle of 4 to 8 weeks, should cover UN38.3 and IEC 62133 items; Then submit the technical documents (including battery specification sheets, Korean instruction manuals, etc.) for review; Finally, after passing the review and obtaining the certificate, the validity period of the certificate is 1 to 3 years. Practical operation requires skills. Direct application is expensive and takes more than three months. First, do CB certification and then switch to KC. The cost can be saved by nearly half and the cycle can be shortened to over one month. Also, it should be noted that the basic model of the certificate cannot be changed and the parameters need to be confirmed in advance.
In conclusion, KC certification is the "pass" for vacuum cleaner batteries to enter the South Korean market. Mastering the new regulations and procedures in advance can enable efficient and compliant entry into the market.
