South Korea has enacted the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) as its main data privacy regulation law. PIPA governs the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information in South Korea.
Under PIPA, personal information is defined as any information that can be used to identify an individual. This includes, but is not limited to, names, addresses, phone numbers, and identification numbers such as resident registration numbers or passport numbers.
Organizations in South Korea must obtain the individual’s consent before collecting, using, or disclosing their personal information. Additionally, organizations must clearly state the purpose of collecting the information and limit the collection to what is necessary for that purpose.
PIPA also requires organizations to implement appropriate security measures to protect personal information. This includes technical and administrative measures such as access controls, encryption, and employee training.
Organizations that violate PIPA can face significant penalties, including fines and imprisonment. The penalties vary depending on the severity of the violation.
In addition to PIPA, South Korea also has several other data protection regulations that organizations should be aware of. These include the Act on the Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (Network Act), which requires organizations to implement information security measures, and the Credit Information Use and Protection Act, which regulates the collection and use of credit information.
Overall, South Korea takes data privacy seriously and has implemented several regulations to protect personal information. Organizations that operate in South Korea should ensure they comply with these regulations to avoid penalties and maintain the trust of their customers.