Ministry of Trade Industry and Resources

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS, President Kim Dae-ja) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources (MOTIR, Minister JK Kim) is introducing separate Korean Industrial Standards (KS) certification for the rotor-nacelle assembly (RNA), a core component of medium and large wind turbines, to help domestic wind turbine manufacturers obtain certification more quickly.

The new RNA certification is a follow-up to the plan to reform the KS certification system, announced at the Ministerial Meeting on Economic Affairs in February 2026. The reform is intended to align Korea’s certification system with the IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Renewable Energy Applications (IECRE).

Under the current system, KS certification covers the entire wind turbine. Even when using the same RNA, any change in tower height or other specifications requires the entire turbine to be reassessed and recertified.

As a result, the same RNA may undergo duplicate assessments, increasing both certification time and cost. In practice, obtaining KS certification for a medium and large wind turbine takes an average of 1,118 days, placing a substantial burden on manufacturers.

To address this issue, KATS has established a separate KS certification category for RNAs. Once an RNA is certified, manufacturers can use the existing certification results even if the tower height or other specifications change. This is expected to reduce duplicate reviews and assessments, shorten certification times, and lower costs.

Applications for KS certification of RNA may be submitted through the Korea Energy Agency (KEA), the designated KS certification body for medium and large wind turbines, beginning July 31, 2026.