Korea RRA EMC Standard Amendment: UPS and PDS Draft
Korea RRA EMC Standard Amendment: Draft Aligns UPS and Power Drive Systems With IEC Rules
A Korea RRA EMC standard amendment for two industrial product groups is now open for comment. On 29 October 2026, the National Radio Research Agency (RRA) issued Public Notice No. 2026-62, an administrative pre-announcement of a draft partial amendment of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Standard (전자파적합성 기준). The draft rewrites the EMC requirements for uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and adjustable speed power drive systems (PDS) so that they match the international standards IEC 62040-2 and IEC 61800-3. Comments are due by 28 December 2026.
Background: why the RRA is changing the rules
Both product groups need KC conformity assessment against the Korean EMC standard before they can be sold in Korea. The RRA's stated reason for the change is harmonisation: it wants the Korean requirements for UPS and PDS to match IEC 62040-2 and IEC 61800-3, and it's doing that by deleting some test items and relaxing the conducted disturbance limits. The UPS rules sit in draft Annex 10 of the standard and the PDS rules in draft Annex 13.
Key Changes in the Korea RRA EMC Standard Amendment
Uninterruptible power supplies (draft Annex 10)
Today, UPS conducted disturbance limits are taken from the limits for multimedia equipment. The draft replaces that cross-reference with separate, relaxed limits for each environment class: C1, C2 and C3.
A UPS configuration diagram is added to show which ports need immunity testing.
The immunity general requirements and performance criteria are trimmed from four to three.
Adjustable speed power drive systems (draft Annex 13)
The "first environment" and "second environment" definitions are replaced with the settings people actually use: residential, commercial, light industrial and industrial.
For balanced three-phase equipment, relaxed limits are added under three new conditions (d, e and f), on top of the existing conditions (a, b and c).
Small equipment can be measured for radiated emissions at 3 m, as well as at the existing 10 m distance.
Radiated emission limits above 1 GHz are added.
Four of the eight low-frequency immunity tests are deleted: total harmonic distortion, commutation notches, voltage deviation and voltage unbalance.
What This Means for Manufacturers
Most changes reduce test scope or relax limits, so UPS and PDS makers whose products already meet IEC 62040-2 or IEC 61800-3 should find KC EMC testing simpler once the amendment is final.
The new radiated emission limits above 1 GHz for PDS are an addition, so drives with fast switching or high-speed digital electronics may need extra measurements.
Product classification by environment (C1 to C3 for UPS, the four settings for PDS) will decide which limits apply, so labelling and user documentation should match the intended installation.
Test labs will need to update their test plans once the final text and its effective date are published.
Certification Impact Summary
Area | Before | After | Impact level |
UPS conducted disturbance | Multimedia equipment limits applied | Separate relaxed limits by class C1, C2, C3 (IEC 62040-2) | Medium |
UPS immunity criteria | 4 general requirements and performance criteria | 3, plus a port diagram for immunity tests | Low |
PDS environments | First and second environment | Residential, commercial, light industrial, industrial | Low |
PDS three-phase limits | Conditions a, b, c | Added relaxed limits under conditions d, e, f | Medium |
PDS radiated emissions | 10 m measurement only; no limits above 1 GHz | 3 m allowed for small equipment; limits above 1 GHz added | Medium |
PDS low-frequency immunity | 8 tests | 4 tests | Medium |
Effective date | Current standard applies | To be confirmed | Low |
Timeline and Required Actions
Key Dates
Date | Milestone |
29 October 2026 | RRA Public Notice No. 2026-62 published |
28 December 2026 | Comment period closes |
To be confirmed | Final amendment and effective date |
Required Actions for Manufacturers
Identify UPS and PDS products that are certified or planned for KC certification.
Compare your current test reports with IEC 62040-2 and IEC 61800-3.
Check whether your drives need radiated emission measurements above 1 GHz.
Confirm the environment class each product is designed for.
Send comments to the RRA by 28 December 2026 if the draft affects you.
Watch for the final notice and plan certification timing around its effective date.
Conclusion
This draft mainly lightens the KC EMC burden for UPS and power drive systems by lining Korea up with the IEC standards most manufacturers already test to. The one new requirement, radiated limits above 1 GHz for drives, is worth checking early. Contact our team for help with KC certification and EMC testing for the Korean market.
