A legal foundation has been laid to support the industrialization of "used batteries" that, after being used in electric vehicles and other products, have declined in performance and can no longer be used for their original purpose.
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources said on the 20th that a bill to enact the Act on the Management and Industrial Promotion of Used Batteries (Used Batteries Act) was approved at a Cabinet meeting.
Korea's used battery disposals, which numbered 2,355 in 2023, are projected to reach 107,500 in 2030. The purpose of the new law is to define the rapidly surging volume of used batteries not as simple waste but as a national strategic resource and to systematically nurture the related industry.
The core of the bill is the establishment of a safety management system. Before removing a battery from a vehicle, its performance will be evaluated and graded, and products equipped with used batteries are required to undergo safety inspections before and after distribution. A public history system will also be newly established to integrate and manage data across the entire process from manufacturing to "used," and to support transaction.
From a resource-circulation perspective, a target system for recycled material content and a certification system for production and use will be newly introduced. The plan is to strengthen a supply chain that recovers and recycles key battery minerals such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt domestically. In addition, the bill includes industrial promotion measures such as recommending that public institutions give purchase preference to products equipped with used batteries and supporting technology development.
The law will take effect one year after promulgation. The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) plans to promptly prepare subordinate regulations in consultation with related ministries, experts, and industry, and to secure the related budget. Minister Kim Jung-kwan said, "This legislation is the result of years of consultations between industry and related ministries," adding, "It will lay the groundwork for establishing a complete circular system for domestic battery resources and will promote the growth of new industries."