What Changed — Cabinet Approval on September 8, Effective March 2027
An amendment to Korea's Industrial Standardization Act, prepared by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS), was approved by the Cabinet on September 8, 2026. After a six-month grace period following promulgation, it takes effect in March 2027. The amendment puts into law the KS certification reform plan announced at the February 2026 ministerial meeting on economic affairs. It makes three core changes:
About five months remain before the law takes effect. Companies that prepare now can apply as soon as it does. Those that wait may lose six months or more.
The Old Limitation — "No Factory, No Certification"
Until now, KS certification was open only to companies that own a manufacturing plant and pass a factory audit. In advanced sectors such as robotics and electronics, however, more and more firms focus on design and development and outsource production to contract manufacturers (OEMs).
Take a robot component designer with 20 engineers that wants to sell to a public agency, where procurement rules require KS-certified products. Because all of its production is outsourced, it could not apply for certification, which can push commercialization back. The amendment is meant to close exactly this gap.
Broader Eligibility and New Audit Types
Under the amended Act, design and development companies can apply for KS certification, and audit types will change to match. Instead of a factory-centered audit, design-led firms will likely need to show evidence of three things:
However, the detailed audit criteria and procedures will be set in subordinate regulations and notices. Review the draft rules carefully when they are published for comment ahead of the effective date.
Support for SMEs and Small Businesses
The amendment also gives smaller companies a legal basis for support:
Support rates and eligibility have not yet been set in the subordinate rules. Budgets can run out early if you wait for the final rules before acting, so it pays to draft your application timeline now.
Post-Certification Control Gets Stricter
Certification will be easier to get but harder to keep. The government gains powers to investigate misuse or forgery of the KS mark, and agencies can test products on the market on their own initiative when needed.
In outsourced production, quality differences between manufacturers become certification risks. If you use two or more contract manufacturers, market surveillance is likely to expose any lot-to-lot differences. Incoming inspection criteria and lot traceability are effectively a must.
Pre-Launch Roadmap for Design-Led and Contract-Manufacturing SMEs
Between now and March 2027, we recommend four steps:
How KITIM Can Help
KITIM offers KS certification readiness assessments, help building quality documentation and supplier management systems, and consulting that ties KS preparation to ISO 9001. Once certification subsidy programs are finalized, we will also point you to the ones that fit your company.
If you design products and rely on contract manufacturers, now is the time to prepare for KS certification. Request a consultation through KITIM's contact page, and we will build a preparation plan that fits your products and production setup.