Designation Requirements for the Republic of Korea

Introduction

The governments of the United States and the Republic of Korea signed binding exchange letters to implement Phase I of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement for the Conformity Assessment of Telecommunication Equipment (APEC Tel MRA) on May 10, 2005.

The MRA between the US and Korea covers the recognition of testing laboratories and acceptance of test reports generated by those recognized labs.

Regulatory Authority

The National Radio Research Agency (RRA) is the regulatory authority in Korea. RRA is responsible for regulating telecommunications and radiocommunications and managing the radiofrequency spectrum.

Standards Available for Recognition

The technical and administrative requirements that are available for recognition are limited to those listed in the following document:

Annex I (NIST version issued December 20, 2024)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The versions of the requirements posted in Annex I are updated frequently by RRA. CABs must check for the most up-to-date versions posted at the web pages noted below and include the most recent versions on the Scope of Accreditation (ISO/IEC 17025). See links below:

Regulations on Radio Equipment (Ordinance of MSIT) https://www.law.go.kr/LSW/lsInfoP.do?nwJoYnInfo=Y&ancNo=&a=&efYd=20201224&lsiSeq=224773&ancYd=#0000

Notifications (RRA and MSIT): Test Methods for Electromagnetic Compatibility (RRA Announcement) https://www.law.go.kr/LSW/admRulLsInfoP.do?chrClsCd=&admRulSeq=2100000211664

Notice on Designation and Management of Testing Laboratories for Broadcasting and Communications Equipment (RRA Public Notification) https://www.law.go.kr/LSW/admRulLsInfoP.do?admRulSeq=2100000211415&vSct=*

KS C, KS B Standards
Test method content confirmation site: https://www.e-ks.kr/KSCI/portalindex.do
Purchase and download site: www.kssn.net

KS X Standards
https://www.rra.go.kr/ko/reference/kcsList.do

KN Standards
https://www.rra.go.kr/ko/reference/lawList.do?lw_type=6

List of Technical Regulations for The Republic of Korea
https://www.rra.go.kr/en/cas/mra.do 

Note:
RRA does not normally accept exceptions/restrictions/limitations to the accreditation to the standards being recognized. However, RRA will accept a limited accreditation for KS C 9832 and KS C 9835 that excludes broadcast receivers.

CAB Test/Measurement Distances for Radiated Emissions

• Up to 1 GHz: measurement distance is 10 m (except as noted below)
  • As of January 1, 2023, some small volume products can be tested at 3 m as – see Annex I, Footnote 7)
  • As of June 22, 2023, CABs that have only 3 m measurement capabilities are eligible for designation/recognition. 
• 1 to 6 GHz: measurement distance is 3 m.

Mandatory Calibration Intervals

Test laboratories must meet the equipment calibration intervals noted here * regardless of manufacturer's recommendations. 

The RRA specified calibration intervals are mandatory and no flexibility is allowed. 

* (Based on RRA Public Notification 2016-17 (in Korean) Chapter 4 (Section 14) and in the table on page 22.)

Subcontracting of Test Methods Recognized by RRA

Recognized test labs may only subcontract testing to other test labs that are also RRA recognized for the specific standards/test methods.   RRA will not accept test reports that include any test data that was generated by a test lab that is not recognized by RRA.

Mandatory Quarterly Test Report Verification (New – 2021)

To maintain RRA recognition, test labs must periodically verify test report information in accordance with the following RRA Procedure:  Quarterly Verification of Test Reports issued by RRA Recognized Test Labs (CABs) (Version 1.0 – June 1, 2021).

General CAB Requirements

The CAB must meet the following requirements:

• General Requirements for CAB Designation

 Application

The CAB shall submit the following documents to NIST electronically at mra [at] nist.gov (mra[at]nist[dot]gov).

• Phase I Application Documents
• First few pages of a sample/template test report (used to help RRA's Certification Conformity Assessment Center (CCAC) verify your organization's legitimate test reports)

Once NIST has reviewed the application and confirmed its completeness, NIST will forward a designation request to RRA, who, under the terms of the MRA, has up to 60 days to respond to NIST. 

About the APEC TEL MRA

The initial signing of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Mutual Recognition Arrangement for Conformity Assessment of Telecommunications Equipment (APEC Tel MRA) took place on May 8, 1998.  Participation in the APEC Tel MRA is voluntary and includes two phases: Phase I for mutual acceptance of test reports and Phase II for certification or product approvals. The United States has implemented the APEC Tel MRA with many countries and more are forthcoming.

For Further Information

For questions about the US-Korea MRA, please contact the NIST Telecom MRA Program via  mra [at] nist.gov (mra[at]nist[dot]gov).
 

Content last revised on July 8, 2024