Korea USB-C Connector KC Certification: RRA Guidance
Korea USB-C Connector KC Certification: RRA Explains SDoC for Connectors and Spares Existing Approvals
Korea USB-C connector KC certification requirements apply from 6 November 2026. The National Radio Research Agency (RRA) guidance KSDB(S) No. 36-1, revised on 1 December 2025, explains how the rule in MSIT Notice No. 2025-56 works in practice. It answers the question we left open in our 21 October post: what happens to products certified before the date.
Background
MSIT Notice No. 2025-56, issued on 5 November 2025, requires wireless equipment in 13 categories to have a USB Type-C receptacle if it charges by cable, or charges and transfers data by cable. The categories are mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headsets, earphones, portable video game consoles, portable speakers, e-book readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation devices and notebook computers.
The rule takes effect on 6 November 2026. The RRA guidance, issued by its ICT Conformity Assessment Division, sets out which products are covered and how to apply.
Key Changes in the Korea USB-C Connector KC Certification Process
The connector becomes a KC SDoC item
From 6 November 2026 the USB Type-C receptacle connector is added to the conformity assessment notice as self-conformity confirmation equipment (자기적합확인), Korea's supplier's declaration of conformity. It sits under Annex 1, item 7(c)25)(b) of the Notice on Conformity Assessment of Broadcasting and Communications Equipment.
Two routes for the end product
A covered product can fit a USB-C connector that already has its own SDoC. It can also use a connector without one, as long as a designated testing lab confirms the connector meets the standard. Either way, the product can then apply for KC certification or registration.
Only new assessments are covered
The requirement applies to wireless equipment in the 13 categories that gets conformity assessment on or after 6 November 2026. Equipment assessed before that date isn't covered. The guidance adds that this stays true when that equipment is later changed.
What to file
For products that go through certification (적합인증) with an SDoC connector, submit the connector's SDoC declaration with the application.
For products that go through registration (적합등록) with an SDoC connector, nothing extra goes to the RRA, but the declaration must be given to the designated testing lab.
If the connector has no SDoC, certification applications must include the connector documents, test report included. Registration applications must cover the connector in the conformity confirmation form (Form 6), and the testing lab keeps the test reports.
The RRA also asks labs to use instruments that can measure to the significant digits set in the connector specification (Annex 1 of the technical standard).
What This Means for Manufacturers
Products certified before 6 November 2026 can stay on sale without a redesign, and later changes to those certificates don't bring in the USB-C rule.
From 6 November, every new KC application in the 13 categories needs USB-C evidence, either a connector SDoC or a lab check of the connector.
Choosing a connector supplier that already holds a Korean SDoC keeps the filing simpler.
Accessories such as earphones, mice and keyboards are where non-USB-C ports are most likely to turn up.
Labs will want connector specifications and measurements to the precision in Annex 1, so collect them from suppliers early.
Certification Impact Summary
Area | Before | After | Impact level |
Charging port on the 13 device types | Any connector | USB Type-C receptacle for wired charging or charging plus data | High |
USB-C connector itself | Not a KC item | KC SDoC (self-conformity confirmation) item | Medium |
Products certified before 6 November 2026 | Treatment to be confirmed (GMA, 21 October) | Not covered, including later changes | High |
Connector without its own SDoC | Not applicable | Allowed if a designated lab confirms compliance | Medium |
Filing documents | Product documents only | Connector SDoC declaration, or connector test documents | Medium |
Timeline and Required Actions
Key Dates
Date | Milestone |
5 November 2025 | MSIT Notice No. 2025-56 issued |
1 December 2025 | RRA guidance KSDB(S) No. 36-1 revised |
6 November 2026 | USB-C requirement applies to new conformity assessments |
Required Actions for Manufacturers
Separate products already KC-certified from those that will be filed on or after 6 November 2026.
Ask connector suppliers whether their USB-C receptacles have a Korean SDoC, and get the declaration.
Where they don't, book the connector check with your designated testing lab.
Add the connector declaration or test documents to your KC filing pack.
Check that the lab's measurements meet the precision in Annex 1.
Ask the agency in Korea to confirm how pending applications filed around 6 November are handled.
Conclusion
The RRA guidance makes the Korea USB-C connector KC certification rule easier to plan for. Existing approvals are safe, and new filings need one extra piece of evidence for the connector. Contact our team for support with KC certification and your Korean filings.
