PERSONAL INFORMATION PROTECTION ACT
Promulgated on March 29, 2011
Effective on September 30, 2011
CHAPTER I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1 (Purpose)
The purpose of this Act is to provide for the processing of the personal information for the
purpose of enhancing the right and interest of citizens, and further realizing the dignity and
value of the individuals by protecting their privacy from the unauthorized collection, leak,
abuse or misuse of personal information.
Article 2 (Definitions)
The terms used herein shall be defined as follows:
1. "Personal information" shall mean the information pertaining to any living person that
makes it possible to identify such individual by his/her name and resident registration
number, image, etc. (including the information which, if not by itself, makes it possible
to identify any specific individual if combined with other information);
2. "Processing" shall mean the collection, generation, recording, storage, retention,
value-added processing, editing, retrieval, correction, recovery, use, provision, disclosure
and destruction of personal information and other similar activities;
3. "Data subject" shall mean the natural person who is identifiable by the information
processed hereby to become the subject of such information;
4. "Personal information file" shall mean a set or sets of personal information arranged or
organized in a systematic manner based on a certain rule for easy access to the personal
information;
5. "Personal information processor" shall mean a public institution, legal person,
organization, individual, etc. that processes directly or indirectly personal information to
operate personal information files for official or business purposes;
6. "Public institution" shall mean the institution stated in the following Items; and
a. The administrative bodies of the National Assembly, the Court, the Constitutional Court
and the National Election Commission, the central administrative departments or
agencies (including those under the Presidential Office and the Prime Minister’s Office)
and their affiliated bodies, and local governments; and
b. Other national institutions and public entities which are designated by the Presidential
Decree.
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