South Korea electronic self-certification sees zero voluntary non-compliance reports

Since the implementation of the revised Radio Waves Act in July 2024, there have been zero voluntary reports of non-compliant electronic products by companies, despite the introduction of a ‘self-conformity’ system. This system allows manufacturers of low-risk electronic devices to bypass government registration by conducting their own testing, provided they report any defects or non-compliance to the government within five days.

Data provided by the Ministry of Science and ICT to National Assembly member Han Jun-ho reveals that while over 12,000 self-certified products have entered the market, government inspections have identified 530 non-compliant items since 2025. The number of detected non-compliant products has risen from one in 2024 to 78 by September of this year. Furthermore, the proportion of non-compliant products manufactured overseas has increased, reaching 90.9% of all detected cases this year.

Critics point out that while regulations have been eased to reduce the burden on businesses, oversight resources have remained stagnant. The number of personnel dedicated to post-market management has only increased from 16 in 2022 to 17 this year, and the budget has slightly decreased from 685 million won to 678 million won. Representative Han Jun-ho emphasized the need to strengthen the management system and increase personnel and budget to match the growing demand for oversight.