Lift and Elevator Codes and Standards in South Korea
Lifts, escalators and wheelchair lifts are regulated by the Elevator Safety Management Act (승강기 안전관리법), its Enforcement Decree and Enforcement Rule (MOIS Ordinance, current version No. 633 of 29 Jul 2026, in force 30 Aug 2026), administered by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (Elevator Policy Division). Lift models and elevator safety parts need safety certification against safety standards notified by the Minister (Act Arts. 11(3), 17(3); MOIS Notice 승강기안전부품 안전기준 및 승강기 안전기준), and each new lift needs an installation inspection by KoELSA before operation (Act Art. 28). In service, owners undergo regular inspections every year, irregular inspections after changes/repairs, and close (precision) safety inspections at 15 years and every 3 years thereafter (Act Art. 32; Rule Art. 54), carried out by KoELSA or designated inspection agencies.
Who regulates lifts
Ministry of the Interior and Safety (행정안전부, 승강기정책과); implementing agency Korea Elevator Safety Agency (한국승강기안전공단, KoELSA)
Periodic inspection
Regular inspection (정기검사) every 1 year from the installation or previous regular inspection (Rule Art. 54(1)); every 6 months for lifts more than 25 years after installation inspection and for 2 years after a serious accident/failure; every 2 years for freight, car and dumbwaiter elevators and for lifts in detached houses (Art. 54(2)); window ±30 days (Art. 54(4)). Irregular inspection (수시검사) after changes or replacement of controller/drive. Close safety inspection (정밀안전검사) when ordered, after a serious defect accident, and 15 years after installation inspection then every 3 years (Act Art. 32). A failed lift must be re-inspected within 4 months (Rule Art. 56). Inspections by KoELSA or designated inspection agencies; procedures in MOIS Notice 승강기 설치검사 및 안전검사에 관한 운영규정.
Installer and maintenance licensing
Yes: manufacturing/import business registration (Act Art. 6, Rule Art. 4) and maintenance business registration (Act Art. 39, Rule Art. 61) with the Mayor/Do Governor against Decree criteria; managing bodies appoint a qualified elevator safety manager (Act Art. 29, Rule Arts. 48–50); self-examination (Act Art. 31) may be delegated to a registered maintenance business.
Laws, codes and standards
- Elevator Safety Management Act (Act No. 19836) (2023) — Elevator Safety Management ActMandatory · Statute (wholly amended by Act No. 15526, 27 Mar 2018; English text current to Act No. 19836, 26 Dec 2023). · National Assembly; administered by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety
- Elevator Safety Management Act (Act No. 20159) (2024) — Elevator Safety Management ActMandatory · Statute; partial amendment No. 20159 promulgated 30 Jan 2024, in force 31 Jan 2025 (version displayed on law.go.kr on 2026-10-16) · National Assembly of Korea
- Enforcement Rule of the Elevator Safety Management Act (MOIS Ordinance No. 633) (2026) — Enforcement Rule of the Elevator Safety Management ActMandatory · MOIS ordinance under the Elevator Safety Management Act; version No. 633 of 29 Jul 2026 (amended by another act), in force 30 Aug 2026 · Ministry of the Interior and Safety
- MOIS Notice: Operating rules for installation and safety inspections of lifts (행정안전부고시 제2026-58호) (2026) — Operating Rules on Installation Inspection and Safety Inspection of LiftsMandatory · Act Arts. 28, 32–38; Enforcement Rule Arts. 47, 53–60 · Ministry of the Interior and Safety
- MOIS Notice: Safety standards for elevator safety parts and lifts (행정안전부고시 제2022-18호) (2022) — Safety Standards for Elevator Safety Parts and Safety Standards for LiftsMandatory · Elevator Safety Management Act Arts. 11(3) and 17(3) — basis for part and lift safety certification · Ministry of the Interior and Safety
- KS B 6918 — Safety standard for the manufacture and installation of escalators and moving walksVoluntary · KATS / KS
- KS B 6919 — Safety standard for the manufacture and installation of elevators — Part 2: Hydraulic elevatorsSuperseded · KATS / KS
- KS B 6950 — Safety standard for the manufacture and installation of elevators — Part 1: Electric elevatorsSuperseded · KATS / KS
Lift associations and bodies
- Korea Elevator Association
- Korea Elevator Industry Cooperative
- Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS)
- Korea Elevator Safety Agency (KoELSA)
- National Elevator Information Center
Last verified 2026-10-17. Standards are copyrighted: we list which one applies and its legal status, not its text.