126 sections indexed, 22 with our notes. Our index and notes; the law itself is at its source: official text ↗

Chapter I General Provisions

Chapter II Establishment of Personal Information Protection Policies

Chapter III, Section 1 Collection, Use, and Provision of Personal Information

Article 22

Methods of obtaining consent

3
Consent. Consent must be requested in a clearly recognizable way, item by item and separately, with key matters clearly marked in written consent. Art. 22
2
Children. Under 14: legal representative consent required and must be verified. Art. 22-2
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Chapter III, Section 2 Restriction on Processing of Personal Information

Article 28

Supervision of personal information handlers

2
Transfers abroad. Transfer abroad needs separate consent, a statutory basis, contract necessity with disclosure, a certified recipient, or a PIPC-recognized country. Art. 28-8
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Chapter III, Section 3 Special Cases concerning Pseudonymized Information

Chapter III, Section 4 Cross-Border Transfer of Personal Information

Chapter IV Safeguard of Personal Information

Article 31

Designation of privacy officers

2
Reach abroad. No express territorial clause, but foreign controllers meeting Decree thresholds without a Korean address must designate a domestic agent; PIPC applies the Act to services targeting Koreans. Art. 31-2
3
DPO required. Every controller must designate a chief privacy officer; small businesses default to the owner or representative. Art. 31
2
DPO qualifications. Large controllers (revenue KRW 150bn+ plus volume thresholds) need a CPO with 3+ years privacy and 6+ years combined privacy/IT experience. Art. 31; Enforcement Decree Art. 32 · from a secondary source
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Article 34

Notification and reporting of divulgence of personal information

2
Tell the regulator. Report to PIPC within 72 hours where 1,000+ persons, sensitive or unique identifiers, or external hacking are involved. Art. 34(3); Enforcement Decree Art. 40 · from a secondary source
3
Tell people. Notify affected data subjects of any leak within 72 hours of becoming aware. Art. 34(1); Enforcement Decree Art. 39 · from a secondary source
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Chapter V Guarantee of Rights of Data Subjects

Article 35

Access to personal information

3
Rights. Access, portability (transmission), correction, erasure, suspension of processing, and the right to object to or seek explanation of automated decisions. Arts. 35, 35-2, 36, 37, 37-2
3
Rights. Access, portability (transmission), correction, erasure, suspension of processing, and the right to object to or seek explanation of automated decisions. Arts. 35, 35-2, 36, 37, 37-2
3
Request deadline. Access must be granted within 10 days of receiving the request. Art. 35(3); Enforcement Decree Art. 41(4) · from a secondary source
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Article 36

Correction or erasure of personal information

3
Rights. Access, portability (transmission), correction, erasure, suspension of processing, and the right to object to or seek explanation of automated decisions. Arts. 35, 35-2, 36, 37, 37-2
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Article 37

Suspension of processing of personal information

3
Rights. Access, portability (transmission), correction, erasure, suspension of processing, and the right to object to or seek explanation of automated decisions. Arts. 35, 35-2, 36, 37, 37-2
3
Rights. Access, portability (transmission), correction, erasure, suspension of processing, and the right to object to or seek explanation of automated decisions. Arts. 35, 35-2, 36, 37, 37-2
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Article 39

Liability for damages

3
Private action. Damages with reversed burden of proof, up to 5x for intentional or negligent leaks, statutory damages up to KRW 3 million, and group suits. Arts. 39, 39-2, 51
3
Private action. Damages with reversed burden of proof, up to 5x for intentional or negligent leaks, statutory damages up to KRW 3 million, and group suits. Arts. 39, 39-2, 51
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Chapter VI (Deleted chapter heading; Articles 39-3 to 39-7 follow it in the source)

Chapter VII Personal Information Dispute Mediation Committee

Chapter VIII Class-Action Lawsuit over Data Infringement

Chapter IX Supplementary Provisions

Chapter X Penalty Provisions

Start from the question. Pick a topic to see the sections of PIPA that deal with it, and how 39 laws compare on it.

This index, the topic tags and the notes are ours, scored on the published rubric. Headings marked "our heading" are our descriptions where the source has none. Always read the official text before acting. Not legal advice.

Regulations library

Every US state privacy law, on one map

24 states have a comprehensive privacy law in the library, alongside the EU, UK, US federal and global laws: 102 in all, each explained in plain words with its sources. Select a state to see what applies there.

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