South Korean Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA)
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The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) establishes comprehensive requirements for the protection of personal information in South Korea, enforced by the Personal Information Protection Commission.
Key Facts
- Enacted in 2011, major amendments in 2020
- Enforced by Personal Information Protection Commission
- Includes strict consent requirements
Key Principles
Collection and Use Limitation
Personal information must be collected and used only with specific consent and for legitimate purposes.
Requirements
- Obtain specific consent
- Specify purposes
- Minimize collection
- Document justification
- Regular reviews
Examples
- Consent mechanisms
- Purpose statements
- Collection forms
- Documentation records
Security Safeguards
Implementation of technical, administrative, and physical measures to protect personal information.
Requirements
- Implement security controls
- Access management
- Encryption requirements
- Regular audits
- Incident response
Examples
- Security policies
- Access controls
- Encryption measures
- Audit reports
Transparency and Rights
Organizations must be transparent about processing and respect data subject rights.
Requirements
- Privacy notices
- Rights procedures
- Access mechanisms
- Correction processes
- Deletion procedures
Examples
- Privacy policies
- Rights request forms
- Access procedures
- Correction mechanisms
Compliance Requirements
Privacy Officer Appointment
Organizations must appoint a Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) to oversee data protection.
Implementation Steps
- Appoint qualified CPO
- Define responsibilities
- Ensure independence
- Provide resources
- Document appointment
Required Documentation
- CPO appointment letter
- Role description
- Resource allocation
- Training records
- Activity reports
Consent Requirements
Specific requirements for obtaining and managing valid consent.
Implementation Steps
- Implement consent mechanisms
- Provide clear notice
- Enable withdrawal options
- Document consent
- Regular reviews
Required Documentation
- Consent forms
- Privacy notices
- Withdrawal procedures
- Consent records
- Review logs
Overseas Transfer Requirements
Requirements for transferring personal information outside Korea.
Implementation Steps
- Obtain separate consent
- Implement safeguards
- Document transfers
- Monitor compliance
- Regular assessments
Required Documentation
- Transfer consent records
- Safeguard documentation
- Transfer logs
- Assessment reports
- Monitoring records
Enforcement & Penalties
Administrative Penalties
The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) can impose significant administrative penalties.
Penalty Categories
Example Cases
Criminal Penalties
Serious violations may result in criminal prosecution.