Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS)

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) is the main body for drafting and promulgating standards in South Korea. It is part of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE).

The agency is part of the most important international standards organizations, like the Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Initially founded in 1883, the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards started as the Analysis and Testing Laboratory for minerals. Only later on, it took up the functions around quality and consumer and industrial safety.

Korean Industrial Safety Standards

In 1999 it was positioned under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) as the main standard setting body. The main functions are to develop the Korean Industrial Safety Standards (KS) to ensure safety and quality of consumer products and manage the certification of technology. This includes the development of standards relevant for the KC certification and KCs certification.

It was reorganized and streamlined in 2013, now under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). The agency now has 4 main departments:

• Bureau of Standards Policy
• Bureau of Product Safety
• Bureau of Conformity Policy
• Bureau of Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Affairs

In order to support the private-led development of standards, it has transferred more tasks for developing standards to the Cooperation Organization for Standards Development (COSD).

Other topics:

• KC Certification
• KCs Certification for machinery
• Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR)
• Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency (KOSHA)
• Korea Gas Safety Corporation (KGS)

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