Korea adopts USB-C as unified connector for phone charging cable

The Korean government has released guidelines on its designation of USB-C as the unified national standard for charging and data transfer connectors used by smartphones, tablet PCs and portable speakers.

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on Wednesday said it designated the day before three national standards to integrate the charging ports of small electronic devices to USB-C and released guidelines for USB-C's application for corporate use.

The three standards are types based on those of the International Electrotechnical Commission: USB-C cable and connector shape specification KSCIEC62680-1-3; USB power transmission method specification KSCIEC62680-1-2; and method of interoperation of external power supply and communication specification KSCIEC63002.

KATS this day held the briefing on USB-C standards at the aT Center in Seoul with about 50 representatives attending from companies like Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. and consumer groups.

The guidelines mentioned requirements for functional evaluation such as durability and withstanding of USB-C cables and connectors in voltage testing and those for electrical safety by major product group.

The briefing also discussed a plan to expand the power supply capacity from 100 watts to a maximum 240 as the national standard amid the trend of global standards of raising capacity range.

Write to Seung-Woo Lee at leeswoo@hankyung.com