The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning said Tuesday that from August next year, it would implement a mandatory labeling system for mobile handsets that informs the public on the specific absorption rate, or SAR, which indicates the amount of electromagnetic waves absorbed by the human body.
The measure would be taken to dispel public concerns over the risks of the waves emitted from mobile phones, the ministry said.
Mobile phones with an absorption rate of up to 0.8 watts per kilogram will be labeled first grade, those with 0.8 to 1.6 W/kg will be given the second grade.
The third and fourth will be labeled as “caution” and “warning,” respectively.
Korea’s SAR threshold level is 1.6 W/kg, which is stricter than the international level of 2 W/kg. Mobile phones with an absorption rate exceeding 1.6 cannot be sold in the market.
