South Korea proposes new bill requiring safety inspections for used batteries prior to removal 
On May 16, 2025, South Korean National Assembly member Park Hyeong-soo and nine other lawmakers proposed the Bill on the Management and Industrial Promotion of Used Batteries to the National Assembly. The Bill was subsequently opened for public consultation from May 21 to June 4. As electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESS) become increasingly widespread, the number of used batteries is expected to surge in the coming years. However, in South Korea, the obligation to return EV batteries to local governments was abolished for EVs registered in 2021 or later, and a systematic management framework is absent. In light of these circumstances, this Bill was proposed to establish a basic legal framework for fostering the used battery industry by building a comprehensive management system that includes market development, streamlined distribution, and the establishment of a safety management system.
The key provisions of the Bill are as follows.
- This Bill aims to stipulate matters related to the management of used batteries, thereby laying a foundation for the sustainable growth of the used battery industry, stabilizing the battery supply chain, and contributing to the national economy. (Article 1).
- The Bill defines key terms, including “used batteries,” which refers to batteries from EVs or other energy storage devices whose usage has ended (Article 2).
- The management of used batteries shall be governed by this law, except where otherwise specified by other legislation (Article 3).
- To systematically support the remanufacturing, reuse, and recycling industries, a committee named the “Used Battery Policy Committee” shall be established under the Ministry of Economy and Finance. This committee will deliberate and coordinate policies regarding batteries, including matters related to transactions and registration of used batteries (Article 4).
- Entities intending to sell or broker the sale of used batteries (“Distributors”), or those intending to reuse used batteries as a business (“Reuse Operators”) shall be required to meet certain criteria and register with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy. The Bill also provides for cancellation of registration and succession of business status (Articles 5–13).
- Owners of EVs or other products designated under the relevant Presidential Decree shall be required to have the used batteries evaluated for performance and safety prior to removal (Article 14).
- Products equipped with remanufactured or reused batteries, as specified by the relevant Presidential Decree, shall be subject to pre-distribution safety inspections and periodic safety inspections (Articles 15–16).
- Standards for the transportation and storage of used batteries are specified (Article 17).
- The Bill mandates the establishment of a Used Battery History Management System to efficiently and systematically manage lifecycle records and condition data of used batteries, and to ensure a stable battery supply chain (Article 21).
- A recycled materials certification system shall be introduced to verify the production, use, and content of recycled materials across the battery supply chain. Based on this system, a target ratio for recycled material content in domestically manufactured or imported batteries shall be established. (Articles 22–24).
- Additional provisions cover matters such as hearings, delegation/entrustment of authority, and penalties (Articles 25–28).
The original text of the Bill can be accessed at the following URL (in Korean):
https://opinion.lawmaking.go.kr/gcom/nsmLmSts/out/2210540/detailRP
