CevroSouth Korea: Korea PIPA and what it requires
Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA): an established law with an active enforcement record. Overseen by Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC).
Key requirements at a glance
| Registration with the regulator | Not required |
|---|---|
| Data protection officer | Required |
| Breach notification | Within 72 hours |
| Cross-border transfer restrictions | Required |
| Data localization | Not required |
Penalties and enforcement
Administrative penalty of up to 3% of total revenue (excluding unrelated revenue) for serious violations including failing to take security measures; criminal penalties for responsible individuals; late breach notification can draw a fine of up to KRW 30 million.
What to know in practice
Notify affected individuals within 72 hours of becoming aware of a breach, and report to the PIPC or KISA within 72 hours where 1,000 or more people, sensitive or unique identification data, or illegal external access is involved. The Enforcement Decree spells out minimum safeguards: an internal management plan, access control, encryption and access logs. A privacy officer must be designated.
The security duty
Under Art. 29: Duty of safeguards: technical, managerial and physical measures such as an internal management plan, access controls, encryption and access records. Source: published text, checked 2026-10.
How Cevro helps
- Maps Korea PIPA to the rest of your compliance program, so evidence collected for SOC 2 or ISO 27001 also counts here where it overlaps.
- Counts your automated technical checks as evidence toward the security duty in Art. 29.
- Gives every failing control a specific fix and a way to re-check it.
Frequently asked questions
Who regulates data protection in South Korea?
Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) oversees Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).
Is breach notification mandatory under Korea PIPA?
The law sets a 72-hour window for notifying the regulator of a personal data breach, so you need detection and an incident process that can meet it.
Does South Korea restrict cross-border data transfers?
Yes. Moving personal data out of South Korea is restricted, so confirm a lawful transfer basis before data leaves the jurisdiction.
Do you need a data protection officer under Korea PIPA?
Yes. Appointing a data protection officer is required.
What are the penalties for non-compliance in South Korea?
Administrative penalty of up to 3% of total revenue (excluding unrelated revenue) for serious violations including failing to take security measures; criminal penalties for responsible individuals; late breach notification can draw a fine of up to KRW 30 million.