Apple Watch ECG feature gets regulatory approval in South Korea

The ECG, or electrocardiogram, feature uses Apple Watch's onboard sensors to record the electrical pulses that make a heart beat. First launched in the U.S. with Apple Watch Series 4, Apple has been steadily expanding the feature's availability.

On Monday, Korea-based ET News reported that the ECG feature received approval from South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. That could indicate that ECG support will roll out in the region as part of a near future software update.

Because it's a medical capability, Apple must receive government approval before making the feature available in specific countries. In the U.S., for example, Apple received Food and Drug Administration clearance before its debut in 2018.

In June, Apple was also granted regulatory approval for the ECG app in Japan and Brazil. As of this writing, the feature has yet to debut in those countries.