EU Unifies 'Smartphone Chargers'... What About Korea? [Cha Min-young's Post-it]

Scheduled for Fall 2024
Apple iPhone Takes Direct Hit
Korea Also Has Cases of Charging Port Standardization

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] #. On the 7th of last month (local time), foreign media reported that the European Union (EU) agreed to the so-called 'single charging port law,' which requires all manufacturers to apply the universal charging port, USB Type-C, to devices ranging from smartphones and headphones to digital cameras and tablet PCs. Once approved by the European Council and the European Parliament, the new regulation is scheduled to take effect from the fall of 2024. Could a similar law be enacted in Korea?

Details of the EU's charger standardization law include ▲ consumers must be able to charge devices with the same USB-C type charger regardless of the device or brand ▲ charging speed must not be unfairly limited when using compatible chargers, and the same charging speed must be guaranteed ▲ the sale of electronic devices and chargers must be separated so that consumers can purchase new electronic devices without buying new chargers ▲ manufacturers must provide information related to charging performance, such as the power required by the device and whether fast charging is supported.

The biggest impact will undoubtedly be on Apple. Since the iPhone 5 series in 2012, Apple has maintained its proprietary Lightning connector. The IT magazine The Verge explains, "The EU estimates that this regulation will reduce more than 12,000 tons of electronic waste annually and save consumers $268 million who had to spend on unnecessary charger purchases."

So, what about Korea? According to the office of Kim Young-sil, a member of the People Power Party on the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee, there are almost no legislative cases outside the EU in the investigation of overseas cases for domestic legislation. Although the U.S. Senate sent a letter to the Department of Commerce urging the establishment of a policy to unify chargers, no legislative bill has been proposed.

Apple Lightning Connector

Domestically, around June 2000, the then Ministry of Information and Communication led the standardization of mobile phone charging ports. The Ministry formed the ‘Mobile Terminal Charging Structure Standardization Promotion Committee,’ consisting of manufacturers, mobile carriers, research institutes, and consumer groups to promote user convenience and reduce resource waste. They standardized the 24-pin charging port, revised and established the Korea Information and Communications Technology Association (TTA) group standards, and implemented a policy to separate the sale of mobile phones and standard chargers.

A representative from the office of Assemblyman Kim Young-sil explained, "If codification is necessary, we are considering proceeding by including it in ministerial notices, such as the standardized 'Electric Vehicle Charger Technical Standards' set by the relevant ministries." They added, "If the big market, the EU, creates regulations first and global companies follow them, environmental standardization will naturally occur without the need for separate regulations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.