Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) Updates – 2025

Executive Summary

This article outlines the latest amendments to South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), focusing on data portability rights, consent management, and compliance requirements for both domestic and overseas companies.

South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) has been substantially revised to enhance individuals’ control over their data, with final amendments taking effect in 2025.

Data Portability Rights:
From March 13, 2025, individuals can request the transfer of their personal data to another service provider or receive it directly in a secure, machine-readable format. Controllers must implement mechanisms—such as encrypted downloads or APIs—to meet this new requirement.

Consent and Transparency:
The September 2024 amendment to the Enforcement Decree emphasized truly voluntary consent. Companies may collect data without consent only when it is strictly necessary for contract performance. Privacy notices and consent forms must clearly outline data uses, ensuring no bundled or coercive terms.

Overseas Controllers:
A March 2025 law mandates that foreign businesses operating in Korea appoint a domestic representative to handle privacy matters. This requirement becomes effective on October 2, 2025, and affects global companies targeting Korean users.

Regulatory Focus:
The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) has increased oversight of AI and automated decision-making. Organizations must provide transparency on algorithmic processes, user profiling, and cross-border data transfers.

Compliance Priorities:
Companies should update privacy policies and contracts, establish internal procedures for handling data portability requests, and ensure proper consent management. For overseas entities, appointing a local representative and revising cross-border transfer frameworks is essential.

Looking Ahead:
These reforms align Korea’s privacy regime with international standards, positioning it alongside the EU’s GDPR in terms of user rights and corporate obligations. Companies that act early to implement robust data governance will not only ensure compliance but also build trust with consumers in an increasingly data-driven economy.

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