diff --git a/.chloggen/k8sattributes-semconv-gates.yaml b/.chloggen/k8sattributes-semconv-gates.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..255112b034294
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.chloggen/k8sattributes-semconv-gates.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+# Use this changelog template to create an entry for release notes.
+
+# One of 'breaking', 'deprecation', 'new_component', 'enhancement', 'bug_fix'
+change_type: breaking
+
+# The name of the component, or a single word describing the area of concern, (e.g. receiver/filelog)
+component: processor/k8sattributes
+
+# A brief description of the change.  Surround your text with quotes ("") if it needs to start with a backtick (`).
+note: Introduce semantic conventions compliant feature gate pair for k8sattributes processor
+
+# Mandatory: One or more tracking issues related to the change. You can use the PR number here if no issue exists.
+issues: [44693]
+
+# (Optional) One or more lines of additional information to render under the primary note.
+# These lines will be padded with 2 spaces and then inserted directly into the document.
+# Use pipe (|) for multiline entries.
+subtext: |
+  - Added `processor.k8sattributes.EmitV1K8sConventions` feature gate to enable stable semantic convention attributes (singular form: `k8s.<workload>.label.<key>` and `k8s.<workload>.annotation.<key>`)
+  - Added `processor.k8sattributes.DontEmitV0K8sConventions` feature gate to disable legacy non-compliant attributes (plural form: `k8s.<workload>.labels.<key>` and `k8s.<workload>.annotations.<key>`)
+  - Both feature gates are in `alpha` stage and disabled by default
+  - The processor now validates that legacy attributes cannot be disabled without enabling stable attributes
+  - Deprecated `k8sattr.labelsAnnotationsSingular.allow` feature gate in favor of the new semconv-compliant gates (will be removed in v0.150.0)
+  - During migration period, both legacy and stable attributes can coexist when `EmitV1K8sConventions` is enabled but `DontEmitV0K8sConventions` is not
+
+# If your change doesn't affect end users or the exported elements of any package,
+# you should instead start your pull request title with [chore] or use the "Skip Changelog" label.
+# Optional: The change log or logs in which this entry should be included.
+# e.g. '[user]' or '[user, api]'
+# Include 'user' if the change is relevant to end users.
+# Include 'api' if there is a change to a library API.
+# Default: '[user]'
+change_logs: []
diff --git a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/config.go b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/config.go
index e3a02f2da7b52..79c6b77f05f51 100644
--- a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/config.go
+++ b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/config.go
@@ -175,8 +175,8 @@ type ExtractConfig struct {
 type FieldExtractConfig struct {
 	// TagName represents the name of the resource attribute that will be added to logs, metrics or spans.
 	// When not specified, a default tag name will be used of the format:
-	//   - k8s.pod.annotations.<annotation key>  (or k8s.pod.annotation.<annotation key> when k8sattr.labelsAnnotationsSingular.allow is enabled)
-	//   - k8s.pod.labels.<label key>  (or k8s.pod.label.<label key> when k8sattr.labelsAnnotationsSingular.allow is enabled)
+	//   - k8s.pod.annotations.<annotation key>  (or k8s.pod.annotation.<annotation key> when processor.k8sattributes.EmitV1K8sConventions is enabled)
+	//   - k8s.pod.labels.<label key>  (or k8s.pod.label.<label key> when processor.k8sattributes.EmitV1K8sConventions is enabled)
 	// For example, if tag_name is not specified and the key is git_sha,
 	// then the attribute name will be `k8s.pod.annotations.git_sha` (or `k8s.pod.annotation.git_sha` with the feature gate).
 	// When key_regex is present, tag_name supports back reference to both named capturing and positioned capturing.
diff --git a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/documentation.md b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/documentation.md
index 4f0d52eddb063..f3d79de7fd1c6 100644
--- a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/documentation.md
+++ b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/documentation.md
@@ -159,6 +159,8 @@ This component has the following feature gates:
 
 | Feature Gate | Stage | Description | From Version | To Version | Reference |
 | ------------ | ----- | ----------- | ------------ | ---------- | --------- |
-| `k8sattr.labelsAnnotationsSingular.allow` | alpha | When enabled, default k8s label and annotation resource attribute keys will be singular, instead of plural | v0.125.0 | N/A | [Link](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/issues/39774) |
+| `k8sattr.labelsAnnotationsSingular.allow` | deprecated | When enabled, default k8s label and annotation resource attribute keys will be singular, instead of plural | v0.125.0 | v0.145.0 | [Link](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/issues/39774) |
+| `processor.k8sattributes.DontEmitV0K8sConventions` | alpha | When enabled, semconv legacy attributes are disabled. | v0.145.0 | N/A | [Link](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/issues/44589) |
+| `processor.k8sattributes.EmitV1K8sConventions` | alpha | When enabled, semconv stable attributes are enabled. | v0.145.0 | N/A | [Link](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/issues/44589) |
 
 For more information about feature gates, see the [Feature Gates](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector/blob/main/featuregate/README.md) documentation.
diff --git a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/kube/client.go b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/kube/client.go
index 13f77b7849b6d..f31deb920f287 100644
--- a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/kube/client.go
+++ b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/kube/client.go
@@ -918,18 +918,25 @@ func (c *WatchClient) extractPodAttributes(pod *api_v1.Pod) map[string]string {
 		}
 	}
 
-	formatterLabel := K8sPodLabelsKey
-	if metadata.K8sattrLabelsAnnotationsSingularAllowFeatureGate.IsEnabled() {
-		formatterLabel = K8sPodLabelKey
-	}
+	enableStable := metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesEmitV1K8sConventionsFeatureGate.IsEnabled()
+	disableLegacy := metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesDontEmitV0K8sConventionsFeatureGate.IsEnabled()
 
 	for _, r := range c.Rules.Labels {
-		r.extractFromPodMetadata(pod.Labels, tags, formatterLabel)
+		if !disableLegacy {
+			r.extractFromPodMetadata(pod.Labels, tags, K8sPodLabelsKey)
+		}
+		if enableStable {
+			r.extractFromPodMetadata(pod.Labels, tags, K8sPodLabelKey)
+		}
 	}
 
-	formatterAnnotation := K8sPodAnnotationsKey
-	if metadata.K8sattrLabelsAnnotationsSingularAllowFeatureGate.IsEnabled() {
-		formatterAnnotation = K8sPodAnnotationKey
+	for _, r := range c.Rules.Annotations {
+		if !disableLegacy {
+			r.extractFromPodMetadata(pod.Annotations, tags, K8sPodAnnotationsKey)
+		}
+		if enableStable {
+			r.extractFromPodMetadata(pod.Annotations, tags, K8sPodAnnotationKey)
+		}
 	}
 
 	if c.Rules.ServiceName {
@@ -942,9 +949,6 @@ func (c *WatchClient) extractPodAttributes(pod *api_v1.Pod) map[string]string {
 		copyLabel(pod, tags, "app.kubernetes.io/version", conventions.ServiceVersionKey)
 	}
 
-	for _, r := range c.Rules.Annotations {
-		r.extractFromPodMetadata(pod.Annotations, tags, formatterAnnotation)
-	}
 	return tags
 }
 
@@ -1163,22 +1167,25 @@ func (c *WatchClient) extractPodContainersAttributes(pod *api_v1.Pod) PodContain
 func (c *WatchClient) extractNamespaceAttributes(namespace *api_v1.Namespace) map[string]string {
 	tags := map[string]string{}
 
-	formatterLabel := K8sNamespaceLabelsKey
-	if metadata.K8sattrLabelsAnnotationsSingularAllowFeatureGate.IsEnabled() {
-		formatterLabel = K8sNamespaceLabelKey
-	}
+	enableStable := metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesEmitV1K8sConventionsFeatureGate.IsEnabled()
+	disableLegacy := metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesDontEmitV0K8sConventionsFeatureGate.IsEnabled()
 
 	for _, r := range c.Rules.Labels {
-		r.extractFromNamespaceMetadata(namespace.Labels, tags, formatterLabel)
-	}
-
-	formatterAnnotation := K8sNamespaceAnnotationsKey
-	if metadata.K8sattrLabelsAnnotationsSingularAllowFeatureGate.IsEnabled() {
-		formatterAnnotation = K8sNamespaceAnnotationKey
+		if !disableLegacy {
+			r.extractFromNamespaceMetadata(namespace.Labels, tags, K8sNamespaceLabelsKey)
+		}
+		if enableStable {
+			r.extractFromNamespaceMetadata(namespace.Labels, tags, K8sNamespaceLabelKey)
+		}
 	}
 
 	for _, r := range c.Rules.Annotations {
-		r.extractFromNamespaceMetadata(namespace.Annotations, tags, formatterAnnotation)
+		if !disableLegacy {
+			r.extractFromNamespaceMetadata(namespace.Annotations, tags, K8sNamespaceAnnotationsKey)
+		}
+		if enableStable {
+			r.extractFromNamespaceMetadata(namespace.Annotations, tags, K8sNamespaceAnnotationKey)
+		}
 	}
 
 	return tags
@@ -1187,22 +1194,25 @@ func (c *WatchClient) extractNamespaceAttributes(namespace *api_v1.Namespace) ma
 func (c *WatchClient) extractNodeAttributes(node *api_v1.Node) map[string]string {
 	tags := map[string]string{}
 
-	formatterLabel := K8sNodeLabelsKey
-	if metadata.K8sattrLabelsAnnotationsSingularAllowFeatureGate.IsEnabled() {
-		formatterLabel = K8sNodeLabelKey
-	}
+	enableStable := metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesEmitV1K8sConventionsFeatureGate.IsEnabled()
+	disableLegacy := metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesDontEmitV0K8sConventionsFeatureGate.IsEnabled()
 
 	for _, r := range c.Rules.Labels {
-		r.extractFromNodeMetadata(node.Labels, tags, formatterLabel)
-	}
-
-	formatterAnnotation := K8sNodeAnnotationsKey
-	if metadata.K8sattrLabelsAnnotationsSingularAllowFeatureGate.IsEnabled() {
-		formatterAnnotation = K8sNodeAnnotationKey
+		if !disableLegacy {
+			r.extractFromNodeMetadata(node.Labels, tags, K8sNodeLabelsKey)
+		}
+		if enableStable {
+			r.extractFromNodeMetadata(node.Labels, tags, K8sNodeLabelKey)
+		}
 	}
 
 	for _, r := range c.Rules.Annotations {
-		r.extractFromNodeMetadata(node.Annotations, tags, formatterAnnotation)
+		if !disableLegacy {
+			r.extractFromNodeMetadata(node.Annotations, tags, K8sNodeAnnotationsKey)
+		}
+		if enableStable {
+			r.extractFromNodeMetadata(node.Annotations, tags, K8sNodeAnnotationKey)
+		}
 	}
 	return tags
 }
diff --git a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/kube/client_test.go b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/kube/client_test.go
index a2097439030fd..1f4e936c507a9 100644
--- a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/kube/client_test.go
+++ b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/kube/client_test.go
@@ -1074,9 +1074,11 @@ func TestExtractionRules(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tc := range testCases {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			if tc.singularFeatureGate {
-				require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.K8sattrLabelsAnnotationsSingularAllowFeatureGate.ID(), true))
+				require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesEmitV1K8sConventionsFeatureGate.ID(), true))
+				require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesDontEmitV0K8sConventionsFeatureGate.ID(), true))
 				defer func() {
-					require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.K8sattrLabelsAnnotationsSingularAllowFeatureGate.ID(), false))
+					require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesEmitV1K8sConventionsFeatureGate.ID(), false))
+					require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesDontEmitV0K8sConventionsFeatureGate.ID(), false))
 				}()
 			}
 
@@ -1378,9 +1380,11 @@ func TestNamespaceExtractionRules(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tc := range testCases {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			if tc.singularFeatureGate {
-				require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.K8sattrLabelsAnnotationsSingularAllowFeatureGate.ID(), true))
+				require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesEmitV1K8sConventionsFeatureGate.ID(), true))
+				require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesDontEmitV0K8sConventionsFeatureGate.ID(), true))
 				defer func() {
-					require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.K8sattrLabelsAnnotationsSingularAllowFeatureGate.ID(), false))
+					require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesEmitV1K8sConventionsFeatureGate.ID(), false))
+					require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesDontEmitV0K8sConventionsFeatureGate.ID(), false))
 				}()
 			}
 
@@ -1636,9 +1640,11 @@ func TestNodeExtractionRules(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tc := range testCases {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			if tc.singularFeatureGate {
-				require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.K8sattrLabelsAnnotationsSingularAllowFeatureGate.ID(), true))
+				require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesEmitV1K8sConventionsFeatureGate.ID(), true))
+				require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesDontEmitV0K8sConventionsFeatureGate.ID(), true))
 				defer func() {
-					require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.K8sattrLabelsAnnotationsSingularAllowFeatureGate.ID(), false))
+					require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesEmitV1K8sConventionsFeatureGate.ID(), false))
+					require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesDontEmitV0K8sConventionsFeatureGate.ID(), false))
 				}()
 			}
 
diff --git a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/kube/kube.go b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/kube/kube.go
index ef2ccf0989c44..7ff88fc5d6fb3 100644
--- a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/kube/kube.go
+++ b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/kube/kube.go
@@ -372,7 +372,12 @@ func (r *FieldExtractionRule) extractFromMetadata(metadata, tags map[string]stri
 			}
 		}
 	} else if v, ok := metadata[r.Key]; ok {
-		tags[r.Name] = r.extractField(v)
+		// Use formatter to determine attribute name if no custom name was specified
+		name := r.Name
+		if name == "" {
+			name = fmt.Sprintf(formatter, r.Key)
+		}
+		tags[name] = r.extractField(v)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/metadata/generated_feature_gates.go b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/metadata/generated_feature_gates.go
index 405b5f36532f9..f8d40e2ce95ab 100644
--- a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/metadata/generated_feature_gates.go
+++ b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/metadata/generated_feature_gates.go
@@ -8,8 +8,25 @@ import (
 
 var K8sattrLabelsAnnotationsSingularAllowFeatureGate = featuregate.GlobalRegistry().MustRegister(
 	"k8sattr.labelsAnnotationsSingular.allow",
-	featuregate.StageAlpha,
+	featuregate.StageDeprecated,
 	featuregate.WithRegisterDescription("When enabled, default k8s label and annotation resource attribute keys will be singular, instead of plural"),
 	featuregate.WithRegisterReferenceURL("https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/issues/39774"),
 	featuregate.WithRegisterFromVersion("v0.125.0"),
+	featuregate.WithRegisterToVersion("v0.145.0"),
+)
+
+var ProcessorK8sattributesDontEmitV0K8sConventionsFeatureGate = featuregate.GlobalRegistry().MustRegister(
+	"processor.k8sattributes.DontEmitV0K8sConventions",
+	featuregate.StageAlpha,
+	featuregate.WithRegisterDescription("When enabled, semconv legacy attributes are disabled."),
+	featuregate.WithRegisterReferenceURL("https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/issues/44589"),
+	featuregate.WithRegisterFromVersion("v0.145.0"),
+)
+
+var ProcessorK8sattributesEmitV1K8sConventionsFeatureGate = featuregate.GlobalRegistry().MustRegister(
+	"processor.k8sattributes.EmitV1K8sConventions",
+	featuregate.StageAlpha,
+	featuregate.WithRegisterDescription("When enabled, semconv stable attributes are enabled."),
+	featuregate.WithRegisterReferenceURL("https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/issues/44589"),
+	featuregate.WithRegisterFromVersion("v0.145.0"),
 )
diff --git a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/metadata.yaml b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/metadata.yaml
index 9be811d8d60b2..b623bd2bc151a 100644
--- a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/metadata.yaml
+++ b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/metadata.yaml
@@ -136,11 +136,24 @@ resource_attributes:
 
 feature_gates:
   - id: k8sattr.labelsAnnotationsSingular.allow
-    stage: alpha
+    stage: deprecated
     description: >-
       When enabled, default k8s label and annotation resource attribute keys will be singular, instead of plural
     from_version: v0.125.0
+    to_version: v0.145.0
     reference_url: https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/issues/39774
+  - id: processor.k8sattributes.DontEmitV0K8sConventions
+    stage: alpha
+    description: >-
+      When enabled, semconv legacy attributes are disabled.
+    from_version: v0.145.0
+    reference_url: https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/issues/44589
+  - id: processor.k8sattributes.EmitV1K8sConventions
+    stage: alpha
+    description: >-
+      When enabled, semconv stable attributes are enabled.
+    from_version: v0.145.0
+    reference_url: https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/issues/44589
 
 tests:
   config:
diff --git a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/options.go b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/options.go
index fcf48244d98d9..f26ac0a13657e 100644
--- a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/options.go
+++ b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/options.go
@@ -4,10 +4,8 @@
 package k8sattributesprocessor // import "github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/processor/k8sattributesprocessor"
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"regexp"
-	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	conventions "go.opentelemetry.io/otel/semconv/v1.39.0"
@@ -240,7 +238,7 @@ func withDeploymentNameFromReplicaSet(enabled bool) option {
 // withExtractLabels allows specifying options to control extraction of pod labels.
 func withExtractLabels(labels ...FieldExtractConfig) option {
 	return func(p *kubernetesprocessor) error {
-		labels, err := extractFieldRules("labels", labels...)
+		labels, err := extractFieldRules(labels...)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -252,7 +250,7 @@ func withExtractLabels(labels ...FieldExtractConfig) option {
 // withExtractAnnotations allows specifying options to control extraction of pod annotations tags.
 func withExtractAnnotations(annotations ...FieldExtractConfig) option {
 	return func(p *kubernetesprocessor) error {
-		annotations, err := extractFieldRules("annotations", annotations...)
+		annotations, err := extractFieldRules(annotations...)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -261,7 +259,7 @@ func withExtractAnnotations(annotations ...FieldExtractConfig) option {
 	}
 }
 
-func extractFieldRules(fieldType string, fields ...FieldExtractConfig) ([]kube.FieldExtractionRule, error) {
+func extractFieldRules(fields ...FieldExtractConfig) ([]kube.FieldExtractionRule, error) {
 	var rules []kube.FieldExtractionRule
 	for _, a := range fields {
 		name := a.TagName
@@ -270,16 +268,6 @@ func extractFieldRules(fieldType string, fields ...FieldExtractConfig) ([]kube.F
 			a.From = kube.MetadataFromPod
 		}
 
-		if name == "" && a.Key != "" {
-			// name for KeyRegex case is set at extraction time/runtime, skipped here
-			// Use singular form when feature gate is enabled
-			fieldTypeName := fieldType
-			if metadata.K8sattrLabelsAnnotationsSingularAllowFeatureGate.IsEnabled() {
-				fieldTypeName = strings.TrimSuffix(fieldType, "s")
-			}
-			name = fmt.Sprintf("k8s.%v.%v.%v", a.From, fieldTypeName, a.Key)
-		}
-
 		var keyRegex *regexp.Regexp
 		var hasKeyRegexReference bool
 		if a.KeyRegex != "" {
diff --git a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/options_test.go b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/options_test.go
index e5d34f86529c8..52dd31bb51078 100644
--- a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/options_test.go
+++ b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/options_test.go
@@ -9,12 +9,10 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/collector/featuregate"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/selection"
 
 	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/internal/k8sconfig"
 	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/kube"
-	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/metadata"
 )
 
 func TestWithAPIConfig(t *testing.T) {
@@ -564,58 +562,54 @@ func TestWithFilterFields(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func Test_extractFieldRules(t *testing.T) {
-	type args struct {
-		fieldType string
-		fields    []FieldExtractConfig
-	}
 	tests := []struct {
 		name    string
-		args    args
+		fields  []FieldExtractConfig
 		want    []kube.FieldExtractionRule
 		wantErr bool
 	}{
 		{
-			name: "default",
-			args: args{"labels", []FieldExtractConfig{
+			name: "empty tag_name leaves Name empty for dynamic resolution",
+			fields: []FieldExtractConfig{
 				{
 					Key:  "key",
 					From: kube.MetadataFromPod,
 				},
-			}},
+			},
 			want: []kube.FieldExtractionRule{
 				{
-					Name: "k8s.pod.labels.key",
+					Name: "",
 					Key:  "key",
 					From: kube.MetadataFromPod,
 				},
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			name: "basic",
-			args: args{"field", []FieldExtractConfig{
+			name: "explicit tag_name is preserved",
+			fields: []FieldExtractConfig{
 				{
-					TagName: "name",
+					TagName: "custom.name",
 					Key:     "key",
 					From:    kube.MetadataFromPod,
 				},
-			}},
+			},
 			want: []kube.FieldExtractionRule{
 				{
-					Name: "name",
+					Name: "custom.name",
 					Key:  "key",
 					From: kube.MetadataFromPod,
 				},
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			name: "keyregex-capture-group",
-			args: args{"labels", []FieldExtractConfig{
+			name: "keyregex with capture groups",
+			fields: []FieldExtractConfig{
 				{
 					TagName:  "$0-$1-$2",
 					KeyRegex: "(key)(.*)",
 					From:     kube.MetadataFromPod,
 				},
-			}},
+			},
 			want: []kube.FieldExtractionRule{
 				{
 					Name:                 "$0-$1-$2",
@@ -625,128 +619,49 @@ func Test_extractFieldRules(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 		},
-	}
-	for _, tt := range tests {
-		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			got, err := extractFieldRules(tt.args.fieldType, tt.args.fields...)
-			if tt.wantErr {
-				assert.Error(t, err)
-				return
-			}
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-			assert.Equal(t, tt.want, got)
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func Test_extractFieldRules_FeatureGate(t *testing.T) {
-	tests := []struct {
-		name             string
-		fieldType        string
-		fields           []FieldExtractConfig
-		featureGateValue bool
-		wantNamePattern  string
-	}{
-		{
-			name:      "labels plural when feature gate disabled",
-			fieldType: "labels",
-			fields: []FieldExtractConfig{
-				{
-					Key:  "app",
-					From: kube.MetadataFromPod,
-				},
-			},
-			featureGateValue: false,
-			wantNamePattern:  "k8s.pod.labels.app",
-		},
 		{
-			name:      "labels singular when feature gate enabled",
-			fieldType: "labels",
+			name: "namespace metadata source",
 			fields: []FieldExtractConfig{
 				{
-					Key:  "app",
-					From: kube.MetadataFromPod,
-				},
-			},
-			featureGateValue: true,
-			wantNamePattern:  "k8s.pod.label.app",
-		},
-		{
-			name:      "annotations plural when feature gate disabled",
-			fieldType: "annotations",
-			fields: []FieldExtractConfig{
-				{
-					Key:  "workload",
-					From: kube.MetadataFromPod,
-				},
-			},
-			featureGateValue: false,
-			wantNamePattern:  "k8s.pod.annotations.workload",
-		},
-		{
-			name:      "annotations singular when feature gate enabled",
-			fieldType: "annotations",
-			fields: []FieldExtractConfig{
-				{
-					Key:  "workload",
-					From: kube.MetadataFromPod,
+					Key:  "env",
+					From: kube.MetadataFromNamespace,
 				},
 			},
-			featureGateValue: true,
-			wantNamePattern:  "k8s.pod.annotation.workload",
-		},
-		{
-			name:      "namespace labels singular when feature gate enabled",
-			fieldType: "labels",
-			fields: []FieldExtractConfig{
+			want: []kube.FieldExtractionRule{
 				{
+					Name: "",
 					Key:  "env",
 					From: kube.MetadataFromNamespace,
 				},
 			},
-			featureGateValue: true,
-			wantNamePattern:  "k8s.namespace.label.env",
 		},
 		{
-			name:      "node annotations singular when feature gate enabled",
-			fieldType: "annotations",
+			name: "node metadata source",
 			fields: []FieldExtractConfig{
 				{
 					Key:  "zone",
 					From: kube.MetadataFromNode,
 				},
 			},
-			featureGateValue: true,
-			wantNamePattern:  "k8s.node.annotation.zone",
-		},
-		{
-			name:      "explicit tag name not affected by feature gate",
-			fieldType: "labels",
-			fields: []FieldExtractConfig{
+			want: []kube.FieldExtractionRule{
 				{
-					TagName: "custom.tag.name",
-					Key:     "app",
-					From:    kube.MetadataFromPod,
+					Name: "",
+					Key:  "zone",
+					From: kube.MetadataFromNode,
 				},
 			},
-			featureGateValue: true,
-			wantNamePattern:  "custom.tag.name",
 		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			// Set feature gate state
-			require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.K8sattrLabelsAnnotationsSingularAllowFeatureGate.ID(), tt.featureGateValue))
-			defer func() {
-				// Reset to default
-				require.NoError(t, featuregate.GlobalRegistry().Set(metadata.K8sattrLabelsAnnotationsSingularAllowFeatureGate.ID(), false))
-			}()
-
-			got, err := extractFieldRules(tt.fieldType, tt.fields...)
+			got, err := extractFieldRules(tt.fields...)
+			if tt.wantErr {
+				assert.Error(t, err)
+				return
+			}
 			require.NoError(t, err)
-			require.Len(t, got, 1)
-			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantNamePattern, got[0].Name)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.want, got)
 		})
 	}
 }
diff --git a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/processor.go b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/processor.go
index d505749b01092..8f7ae7ca6738b 100644
--- a/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/processor.go
+++ b/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/processor.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ package k8sattributesprocessor // import "github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetr
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strconv"
 	"time"
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/internal/k8sconfig"
 	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/kube"
+	"github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib/processor/k8sattributesprocessor/internal/metadata"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -58,6 +60,13 @@ func (kp *kubernetesprocessor) initKubeClient(set component.TelemetrySettings, k
 }
 
 func (kp *kubernetesprocessor) Start(_ context.Context, host component.Host) error {
+	if metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesDontEmitV0K8sConventionsFeatureGate.IsEnabled() && !metadata.ProcessorK8sattributesEmitV1K8sConventionsFeatureGate.IsEnabled() {
+		err := errors.New("processor.k8sattributes.DontEmitV0K8sConventions cannot be enabled without enabling processor.k8sattributes.EmitV1K8sConventions")
+		kp.logger.Error("Invalid feature gate combination", zap.Error(err))
+		componentstatus.ReportStatus(host, componentstatus.NewFatalErrorEvent(err))
+		return err
+	}
+
 	allOptions := append(createProcessorOpts(kp.cfg), kp.options...)
 
 	for _, opt := range allOptions {