How to Obtain KC Certification for Intelligent Robots Exported to South Korea: GTS Professional Compliance Guidance

I. Definition of Intelligent Robots

An intelligent robot (Robot) is a highly intelligent mechanical device capable of a certain degree of autonomous operation by following pre-set programs and its own automatic control system. This autonomy is reflected in its ability to work semi-autonomously or fully autonomously, without the need for continuous direct human intervention. For example, in industrial production, intelligent robots can precisely complete product assembly tasks according to pre-set programs; in the service sector, they can navigate autonomously to provide guidance services for customers.

II. Classification of Intelligent Robots

(I) Classification by Application

1. Industrial Robots

Industrial robots are mainly used in industrial manufacturing environments, undertaking a variety of complex and repetitive tasks. In automobile manufacturing, for example, industrial robots can accurately perform welding, painting, and component assembly. With high-precision operation and fast cycle times, they significantly improve production efficiency and product quality, while reducing labor costs and labor intensity.

2. Agricultural Intelligent Robots

In the agricultural sector, agricultural intelligent robots play an increasingly important role, and can be used in planting, irrigation, fertilization, weeding, pest and disease monitoring and control, and many other stages. For example, intelligent irrigation robots can precisely control irrigation volume and timing based on feedback from soil moisture sensors, ensuring that crops receive an appropriate water supply and improving water resource utilization efficiency.

3. Exploration Intelligent Robots

Exploration intelligent robots are mainly used for exploration tasks in unknown areas, such as space exploration, deep-sea exploration, and polar expeditions. Taking Mars exploration robots as an example, they can travel autonomously on the distant Martian surface, conduct in-depth exploration of the planet's geological structure, climate environment, and possible signs of life, and transmit large volumes of data and images back to Earth, providing valuable material for humanity to understand the mysteries of the universe.

4. Service Intelligent Robots

Service intelligent robots are widely used in various scenarios of daily life, providing a variety of convenient services for people. In hospitals, guidance robots can provide patients with directions for medical visits; in hotels, delivery robots can accurately deliver items required by guests to their rooms; in homes, sweeping robots can automatically clean dust and debris from floors, effectively reducing people's housework burden.

III. Complexity of Intelligent Robots and Testing Scope

(I) System Complexity

An intelligent robot is an extremely complex system, involving knowledge and technologies from multiple disciplines, including mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, computer science, and control theory. The various subsystems and components must work in close coordination with one another to ensure the normal operation of the robot as a whole. Specifically: the mechanical structure design needs to balance movement flexibility and load capacity; the electronic control system must achieve precise control of various sensors and actuators; and software algorithms are responsible for processing perception information, planning paths, and making decisions.

(II) Diversity of Testing Scope

Due to the high complexity of the system, the testing of intelligent robots is correspondingly extensive and detailed, mainly covering the following aspects:

• Electrical and electronic safety: Ensuring that the robot does not cause electric shock, short circuits, or other safety hazards to users or the surrounding environment during operation;
• Radio emission testing: Most intelligent robots have wireless communication functions, and it must be ensured that their radio signal emissions comply with relevant standards and do not cause interference to other devices;
• Communication technology testing: Testing of communication functions such as Bluetooth and 4G/5G is critical to ensure that the robot can transmit data stably and efficiently;
• Lithium battery safety: Lithium batteries are a common power source for robots, and their safety is directly related to the safety of the entire machine. Strict testing is required for conditions such as overcharging, over-discharging, and short circuits.

IV. Market Access Certification Requirements in South Korea

1. KC Certification (Korea Certification)

Purpose:​ A mandatory safety certification system for electrical and electronic products in South Korea, designed to ensure that products comply with Korean product safety standards. This certification conducts comprehensive testing and assessment of products in areas such as electrical safety, mechanical safety, and thermal protection, to prevent safety accidents caused by product quality problems.

Scope of application:​ It applies to electrical and electronic products sold in the South Korean market, including complete intelligent robots and their related electronic components. Enterprises must design and manufacture products in accordance with KC certification requirements, ensure that products comply with relevant Korean standards, and affix the KC mark on the product itself.

Certification tiers:​ KC certification is managed in three tiers based on the risk level of the product. Enterprises must first determine which tier their product falls into before deciding on the certification path:

• Mandatory Safety Certification:​ Applies to high-risk products. Sample testing and an initial factory inspection are required, and after certification, annual follow-up inspections must be accepted;
• Self-Regulatory Safety Confirmation:​ Applies to medium-risk products. Only sample testing and submission of a safety confirmation statement are required, with no factory inspection. The certificate is valid for 5 years;
• Supplier's Declaration of Conformity (SDoC):​ Applies to low-risk products. The enterprise conducts its own testing and issues a declaration of conformity, with the documentation retained for inspection. No certificate needs to be issued by a certification body.

It should be specifically noted that intelligent robots with wireless communication functions must, in addition to obtaining the safety-side certificate, usually obtain a separate radio-side certification. That is, "safety + radio frequency" certificates coexist. Only one KC mark is affixed to the product itself, but two sets of certificate numbers must be marked at the same time.

2. MIC Certification (Korean Wireless Communication Certification, now known as "Conformity Assessment")

Purpose:​ Similar to Japan's JATE certification, it is used to ensure that the wireless communication functions of robots comply with South Korea's Radio Waves Act and telecommunications regulations. This certification focuses on whether parameters such as the robot's transmission power, frequency range, and modulation method in wireless frequency bands comply with relevant provisions, to ensure that it can work normally in South Korean communication networks without causing harmful interference.

Note on the competent authority:​ This certification was previously administered by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) and the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), so the industry still habitually uses the old names "MIC Certification" and "KCC Certification." Following the government restructuring, the relevant functions are now the responsibility of the National Radio Research Agency (RRA) under the Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT), and the official name of the procedure is "Conformity Assessment." Therefore, in external deliverables or formal application materials, it is recommended to use the expression "RRA Conformity Assessment (formerly known as MIC/KCC Certification)," so as to avoid questions from clients or auditors regarding the timeliness of the terminology.

Scope of application:​ All intelligent robots with wireless communication functions must obtain this certification before being sold in the South Korean market. This covers complete machines and wireless modules that use actively transmitting technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular networks, and is one of the necessary conditions for ensuring the legal sale and use of robots in South Korea.

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