Effective May 28, 2026, the Korea Customs Service (KCS) issued Notice No. 2026-17, requiring all imported gallium nitride (GaN) power modules—including those in QFN thermally enhanced packages—to bear permanent KC safety certification labels on both packaging and product body, and to be accompanied by an energy efficiency statement compliant with IEC 62384:2023, issued by a KOLAS-accredited laboratory. This regulation directly affects exporters and supply chain stakeholders in power electronics, semiconductor distribution, and consumer/industrial power supply manufacturing.

Event Overview

The Korea Customs Service published Notice No. 2026-17, effective May 28, 2026. It stipulates that all imported GaN power modules must hold valid KC safety certification; display permanent KC labels on both unit and packaging; and submit an energy efficiency declaration based on IEC 62384:2023, verified by a KOLAS-recognized testing laboratory. The requirement applies immediately, with no transitional period. Covered products include modules supplied by EPC, Fulbright Microelectronics (Fuman Micro), and other major Chinese exporters.

Impact on Specific Industry Segments

Direct Exporters and Trading Companies: These entities face immediate compliance obligations for shipments to Korea. Non-compliant consignments may be detained or rejected at customs clearance. Impact manifests in delayed deliveries, additional lab testing costs, and revised labeling workflows.

Power Module Manufacturers and OEMs: Firms integrating GaN modules into end products (e.g., fast chargers, server PSUs, EV auxiliary converters) must now verify upstream suppliers’ KC status and documentation. Absence of valid KC labels or missing IEC 62384:2023 statements may disrupt Korean market access for finished goods.

Distribution and Channel Partners: Distributors handling GaN modules for resale in Korea must ensure traceability of KC certification and energy efficiency documentation for each batch. Inventory without compliant labeling or declarations cannot legally enter the Korean market post–May 28, 2026.

Supply Chain and Compliance Support Providers: Third-party labs, certification bodies, and regulatory consultants see increased demand for KC application support and IEC 62384:2023 test coordination. However, capacity constraints may arise due to the lack of a grace period and concurrent demand from multiple exporters.

Key Points for Enterprises and Practitioners to Monitor and Act Upon

Verify current KC certification status for all GaN module SKUs destined for Korea

Exporters and manufacturers should audit existing product certifications against KCS Notice No. 2026-17’s scope—specifically confirming coverage of QFN thermally enhanced packages and alignment with the latest KC safety standards applicable to power semiconductors.

Secure IEC 62384:2023 testing and declaration from a KOLAS-accredited lab before shipment

As the notice mandates lab-issued declarations—not self-declarations—firms must engage KOLAS-recognized laboratories early. Lead times for testing and report issuance should be factored into shipping schedules, especially given the absence of a transition period.

Update labeling processes to ensure permanent, legible KC marks on both module body and outer packaging

Labeling must meet KC marking durability requirements (e.g., resistance to abrasion, solvents, heat). Temporary stickers or non-permanent printing methods do not satisfy the notice’s ‘permanent’ requirement and risk non-acceptance during customs inspection.

Review commercial documentation and logistics handoffs for inclusion of KC label verification and energy efficiency statements

Customs brokers and freight forwarders must receive updated packing lists, certificates, and declarations prior to Korean entry. Missing or incomplete documentation will trigger delays; pre-clearance validation is now operationally essential.

Editorial Perspective / Industry Observation

Observably, this measure reflects Korea’s broader regulatory tightening on energy-efficient power semiconductor components—not as an isolated technical update, but as part of a coordinated shift toward harmonized safety and sustainability requirements for electronic imports. Analysis shows the zero-transition-period implementation signals urgency in enforcement readiness, suggesting KCS prioritizes immediate market-level compliance over phased industry adaptation. From an industry perspective, this notice functions less as a preliminary signal and more as an operational threshold: it is already enforceable, and its impact is transactional and immediate. Continued attention is warranted not only to potential amendments to Notice No. 2026-17, but also to possible extensions of similar requirements to related devices (e.g., SiC modules or integrated GaN drivers).

This notice underscores how national-level conformity assessments—once largely relevant to end-product manufacturers—are now cascading downward to component-level importers. Its significance lies not in novelty of certification itself, but in the binding linkage of safety labeling, standardized energy reporting, and real-time customs enforcement at the discrete semiconductor module level.

Currently, this development is best understood as an operational compliance milestone—not a strategic inflection point—requiring precise, documented adherence rather than broad strategic recalibration. Affected firms are advised to treat it as a fixed customs entry condition, not a negotiable or deferrable requirement.

Source: Korea Customs Service (KCS), Notice No. 2026-17, effective May 28, 2026.
Note: Ongoing observation is recommended for any official clarifications or supplementary guidance issued by KCS regarding labeling specifications, acceptable KOLAS lab scopes for IEC 62384:2023, or enforcement interpretations in practice.