On August 21, 2026, South Korea’s National Radio Research Agency (RRA) issued Notice No. 2026-5 amending the Notice on Designation and Management of Testing Laboratories for Broadcasting and Communications Equipment, effective the same day.

The final amendment improves procedures for changing or withdrawing laboratory designation applications, clarifies personnel qualification requirements, establishes when Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) testing may begin following approval by the partner country, and refines designation-renewal and personnel-change procedures.

It also strengthens regular and ad hoc inspection requirements, expands test-report content and retention expectations in line with ISO/IEC 17025 evidence practices, and clarifies proficiency-testing obligations.

Annex 1 adds wired testing for USB Type-C receptacle connectors and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing for aircraft-installed equipment. The RFID/USN wireless test item is separated into radiated and conducted categories. Applications for conformity-assessment testing already received and under processing before August 21, 2026 may continue under the previous provisions.

Impact assessment: Medium. The notice is final and effective immediately, and it materially changes designated-laboratory operations and the classification of several test items, but it includes grandfathering for applications already in process.

Key reasons:

Laboratory designation, MRA timing, inspection, report evidence, proficiency testing and Annex 1 test scopes are updated. USB-C and aircraft EMC items are added, while RFID/USN is split into radiated and conducted testing.

Who is affected?

• RRA-designated testing laboratories
• MRA laboratories
• Conformity-assessment applicants
• Manufacturers of affected wired/radio equipment, and aircraft-equipment suppliers relying on Korean EMC testing.

Conclusion:

Laboratories and applicants should update scope matrices, test-report templates, evidence retention and test routing for new applications submitted from August 21, 2026 onward.