South Korea is moving to strengthen electric vehicle (EV) safety and transparency by proposing stricter disclosure requirements for EV batteries.
The country’s transport ministry has introduced new rules that would require automakers and sellers to provide more detailed battery information at the point of sale. These changes will amend existing regulations, including the enforcement rules of the Motor Vehicle Management Act.
Under the proposal, the number of mandatory battery disclosure items will increase from six to ten. In addition to current specifications such as capacity and voltage, companies will now need to disclose key details including the battery manufacturer, country of origin, product name, and manufacturing date.
Authorities also plan to impose stricter penalties for non-compliance, with fines of up to 10 million won (approximately $6,600) for missing disclosures. Rules governing safety certifications will be tightened as well, allowing authorities to revoke certifications more quickly in cases of repeated defects within a two-year period.
The move comes amid growing safety concerns. According to data from the National Fire Agency, there were 334 EV battery fires in the year ending March 22, compared to 270 incidents in the previous 12 months.
The proposed measures aim to improve consumer awareness, enhance accountability among manufacturers, and strengthen overall EV safety standards in the country.
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