KATS Notice 2026-143: Korea ITE & Tablet PC Test Update
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South Korea (KATS) Proposes Safety Guideline Amendment for Tablet PCs and ITE Products Notice No. 2026-143
The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) issued Notice No. 2026-143 on 11 May 2026, setting out a proposed partial amendment to the Operation Guidelines for Safety Management of Electrical Appliances and Household Goods. The draft does two things: it updates the definition of a tablet PC, and it changes a product-inspection test item for ITE (information technology equipment) products.
At this stage the measure is a draft released for public comment, not enacted law. Manufacturers and importers should read it as a forward signal on KC safety scope and testing for IT and office equipment, and prepare accordingly while the wording is still being finalised.
What KATS Notice 2026-143 proposes
The Operation Guidelines are the working rules that implement Korea's Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act. They define product categories, assign each category to a conformity assessment route (Safety Certification, Safety Confirmation, or Supplier's Declaration of Conformity), and specify the tests and procedures that apply. Amendments to these guidelines therefore translate directly into how a product is classified, tested, and marked for the KC mark.
Updated definition of a "tablet PC"
The draft revises how a tablet PC is defined within the guidelines. Because category definitions determine which detailed product list a device falls under, a change to the tablet PC definition can affect how borderline devices (for example, large screen tablets, detachable keyboard convertibles, or tablet form industrial terminals) are classified and which safety route applies to them. The precise revised wording should be confirmed against the published notice before it is relied on for classification decisions.
Changed product-inspection test item for ITE products
The draft also changes a product inspection test item applicable to ITE products. ITE covers information technology and office equipment the lower hazard category that in Korea typically falls under Safety Confirmation or Supplier's Declaration of Conformity. A change to a test item affects the scope of the test report a manufacturer must hold and may require re testing or a report update for affected models. The specific test item being added, removed, or modified should be confirmed against the notice text.
Regulatory status — proposed, not enacted
Notice No. 2026-143 is an administrative pre announcement of a draft amendment, the stage at which KATS invites comment before formal enactment. It does not yet carry legal effect. The amendment becomes binding only when KATS publishes the finalised text as a formal notification (고시), at which point an effective date is set. Until then, the current guidelines remain in force unchanged.
Background: the Operation Guidelines and the KC safety framework
Korea's KC safety system divides electrical and household products into three risk-tiered routes:
Safety Certification: higher-hazard products; requires product testing plus factory inspection and periodic surveillance.
Safety Confirmation: products of intermediate hazard; requires product testing by a designated body, without the recurring factory inspection.
Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (SDoC): lower hazard products, including much IT and office equipment; the manufacturer or importer tests (or has tested) the product and self declares conformity.
Definitions and test items in the Operation Guidelines determine which of these routes a given product follows and what evidence is required. That is why a definitional change (tablet PC) and a test item change (ITE) though narrow on their face matter to anyone placing IT hardware on the Korean market.
What this means for manufacturers
Classification risk for tablet class devices. If your portfolio includes tablets or tablet adjacent form factors, a revised definition could move a device between categories or routes. Identify any borderline SKUs now so you can assess exposure as soon as the final wording is confirmed.
Test-report currency for ITE products. A changed ITE test item may mean existing test reports no longer cover the full required scope once the amendment is enacted. Map which models rely on the affected test item and flag them for potential re testing or report supplementation.
No immediate compliance obligation but a planning trigger. Because the measure is proposed, nothing changes today. The value of acting now is lead time: aligning test bookings, lab capacity, and documentation updates before an effective date is announced.
Comment opportunity. As a pre announcement, the draft is open to stakeholder input. Manufacturers with concerns about the revised definition or test item can submit comments to KATS within the consultation window.
Certification impact summary
Area | Current position (pre-amendment) | Proposed change under Notice 2026-143 | Status |
Tablet PC definition | Existing definition in the Operation Guidelines | Revised definition (exact wording to be confirmed against the notice) | Proposed |
ITE product test item | Existing product-inspection test item set | One test item changed for ITE products (added/removed/modified — confirm against notice) | Proposed |
Affected conformity routes | Safety Certification / Safety Confirmation / SDoC, per category | Potential reclassification of borderline tablet devices; possible test-scope change for ITE under Confirmation/SDoC | Proposed |
Immediate obligation | Current guidelines remain in force | None yet — binding only upon enactment as a 고시 | Proposed |
Evidence impact | Existing KC test reports valid | Possible need to re-test or update reports for affected ITE models post-enactment | Contingent |
Timeline and required actions
Date | Milestone | Required action for manufacturers / importers |
11 May 2026 | Notice No. 2026-143 issued — draft partial amendment (pre-announcement) | Review the draft; identify affected tablet and ITE SKUs; assess classification and test-scope exposure |
Public comment window (deadline to verify) | Stakeholder consultation open | Submit comments to KATS if the revised definition or test item raises concerns |
Enactment date (to verify — see editorial note re: 2026-07-01 entry) | Final text published as a formal notification (고시) | Confirm the final wording and effective date; lock down re-testing plans |
Effective date (to verify) | Amendment takes legal effect | Update technical files, test reports, and KC documentation for affected models before placing on market |
